9482 Sucklers. 



snow returned for a few days on the 1st of January, and although they 

 were not seen while it lasted, yet 1 found their tracks from tree to 

 tree. 



From these and other observations I am convinced that the squirrel 

 does not hybernate so completely as is usually supposed. Professor 

 Bell says, " It remains during the greater part of the winter in a state 

 of almost complete torpidity, coming abroad, however, on the occur- 

 rence of a fine day, feeding on a part of its treasured hoards, and then 

 retiring again to its slumbers."* Such is the account generally given 

 of its habits in winter; but I am inclined to believe that Von Tschudi 

 is nearer the truth when he says that squirrels " sleep in hard winter 

 weather for several days together, but if the snow prevents them long 

 from getting at their stores they readily die."t To this point 1 would 

 beg to draw the attention of observers. 



Another observation of Von Tschudi's on the life-history of this 

 species deserves further investigation. He states that the squirrel 

 "budds several rounded nests, and if disturbed carries the beautiful 

 little young ones to a distant nest." X I am not aware that this has 

 been observed by British naturalists; but I was once present when 

 three newly-built and empty nests were found in one small plantation, 

 and this in a district where the species is not plentiful. Also, in the 

 'Field' of April 28th, I860, a correspondent records the fact of his 

 having seen a squirrel carry a young one in her mouth, and deposit it 

 in a nest. 



Of "our squirrels," No. 3 was by far the most interesting; No. I 

 was evidently of rather a phlegmatic temperament and decidedly a 

 glutton ; No. 2 was much more graceful and lively, but never com- 

 pletely got over its shyness during the short time that it visited us; 

 but No. 3 from the first showed a bold and adventurous disposition, 

 came close up under the windows, and made voyages of discovery in 

 all directions. He (we always spoke of No. 3 as "he" and of No. 1 

 as "her," why it would be difficult to say) also showed an excellent 

 example in providence, hiding all the nuts he could find ; but I was 

 surprised to find that he did this quite capriciously, not taking them 

 all to one place, but burying them all about at random, so that one 

 could hardly believe he would ever find them again, and I have no 

 doubt that he never did find souie of them. It struck me at the time 

 that the squirrel thus performs a useful duty, the nuts which he cannot 

 find growing into trees in course of time, and since then I found (in 



* ' Biiiisli Quadrupeds,' p. 292. 



t ' Thierl. der Alpeuw.,' p. 195. * Id. p. 194. 



