C 459 ] 

 *rHE GREY SQUIRREL *. 



This species, both in its form and manners, very 

 much resembles the Common Squirrel. It is about 

 the size of a young Rabbet ; and except the inside 

 of the limbs, and tlie under parts of the body, which 

 are white, its colour is an elegant pale grey. 



The Grey Squirrels are said to be natives of Lap- 

 "land, and some other northern climates. They often 

 change the places of their residence; and sometimes 

 not one of them can be found during a whole win- 

 ter, where there were millions in the preceding year. 

 In their journeys from one part of the country to 

 another, when it becomes necessary to pass a lake or 

 river (which is very frequently the case in Lapland), 

 they lay hold of a piece of pine or buxh bark, 

 which .they draw to the edge of the water, mount 

 upon it, and abandon themselves to the waves. 

 They erect tlieir tails, to catch the wind ; but, if it 

 blows too strongj or the waves rise high, the pilot and 

 the vessel are both overturned. This kind of wreck, 

 which often consists of three or four thousand sail, 

 generally enriches some Laplanders, who find the 

 dead bodies on the shore ; and, if these have not 

 lain too long on the sand, they prepare the furs for 

 sale. But when the winds are favourable, the ad- 

 venturers make a happy voyage, and arrive in safety 

 at their destined port-^. 



* Synonyms. — Sciurus Cincreus. Liuii. — Petit gris. Bufjb/i. — 



Grey Squirrel. Catcsdj/. Pcuii. S/ieiios Gen. Zooi. pL l-ij. — Biu: 



Huad. 3j4. 



t Schefier, SS'i, v,ho quotes Olaus) Petri as a wiliieis to one of tLcs& 

 luii^ratioiis. 



