ORDEK X. THE UODEXTI.V. 319 



scales, which they raise when rolled up for their defence. They inhaliit 

 Africa, South-eastern Asia, and the Australasian Islands. There are other 

 species, but they possess no characters or habits essentially differing from 

 the above. 



ORDER X. — THE RODEXTIA. 



This order derives its name from the well-known (jnairliuj habits of the 

 animals of which it is composed. The peculiar structure of the teeth renders 

 this practice necessary to the existence of the animal ; for the incisors, of 

 which there are two in each jaw, continually and rapidly grow from the 

 base, and if they are not worn down by perpetual gnawing, they become so 

 long that they cannot act upon each other, and the creature dies for want of 

 food. 



The Rodentia are, for the most part, lively and interesting animals, many 

 of them extremely active, and such as are furnished with perfect clavicles, 

 use their fore feet as hands, to raise objects and convey food to the moutli. 

 They are divided into several families. The SciuriJa', or scpiirrels ; Muri- 

 da;, or rats and mice; Castoridie, or beavers ; Lepoiida', or hares and rab- 

 bits ; Ilystricina, or porcupines, and some others. 



Genus SciURUS. — The Squirrel. The animals of this group arc fur- 

 nished, with perfect clavicles ; have five grinders above and four below on 

 each side ; the incisors above are chisel-shaped, and those below are pointed ; 

 the tail is long, bushy, with the hairs directed laterally. 



>S'. Yuhjaris. — The Common Red Squirrel. This beautiful and spright- 

 Iv little quadruped is too well known to need description. Its length, in- 

 cluding the tail, is about fifteen inches. The female is somewhat smaller, 

 and of a lighter color. The squirrel appears to be endowed with considerable 

 intelligence, which is manifested by the manner in which it procures some 

 portions of its food. It lays up a stock of provisions, chiefly nuts, for winter 

 use, and in gathering nuts of the larger kind, like the chestnut, which is 

 enclosed in a heavy burr, it ascends the tree, and skilfully cuts oiF the nut- 

 stocks, when the fruit falls to the ground, and after a sufficient number has 

 been thrown down, it rapidly descends, and, with its powerful incisors 

 quickly removes the nut from the burr, and hastens to carry the produce of 

 its labor to a secure hiding-place. 



The squirrel may be easily tamed, and we have had individuals become so 

 familiar that they would climb to our knees and shoulders, and seem to take 

 pleasure in receiving food from our hand. Although in the coldest weather 

 I i the animal spends some days in a semi-torpid state, in its nest, tiie first 



I I relaxation of the cold will bring it forth again to ramble along the fences, or 



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