THE SaUIRRELS. 455 



and in this posture it is that they defend themselves 

 when attacked. When they are irritated, or when 

 any one attempts to lay hold of them, they bite des- 

 perately, and utter a very shrill cry. — In summer 

 they eat voraciously : but remain torpid all winter, 

 except when kept in very warm places ; — and even 

 then they eat but little, and will, if possible, escape 

 into some comfortable place in which to pass this 

 dreary season ; but they return to their master in 

 the spring. They very soon become tame, even 

 when taken of full age ; and the young ones are fa- 

 miliar from the moment they are caught; 



The flesh is eatable ; and, except that it is some- 

 what rank, resembles that of the Hare. The fat is 

 used for dressing leather and furs ; and the skins are 

 employed by the Russians for clothing. — The fe- 

 male brings forth early in the spring, and has usu- 

 ally six or eight young ones at a litter. 



THE SQUIRRELS. 



THE Squirrels are for the most part light, nim- 

 ble, and elegant animals ; climbing trees with the 

 utmost agility, and springing with astonishing se- 

 curity from one branch to another. Some of theni 

 are provided with hairy membranes, extending from 

 the fore to the hind-legs; which, when spread out, 

 by rendering them more buoyant, enable them to 

 leap considerable distances from tree to tree. Some 



G g4 



