CHAPTER III. 

 THE SQUIRRELS AND MARMOTS. 



THE FAMILY £CIUR1D>E — THE EUROPEAN SQUIRREL — THE JAVANESE SQUIRREL — THE HARE SQUIR- 

 REL — THE BLACK SQUIRREL — THE GRAY SQUIRREL — THE NORTHERN GRAY SQUIRREL — THE 

 RED SQUIRREL — THE LONG-HAIRED SQUIRREL — THE FLYING SQUIBREL — THE AMERICAN FLYING 

 SQUIRREL — THE TAGUAN— THE CHIPMUCK — THE LEOPARD MARMOT — THE MARMOT — THE BABAC 

 — THE WOODCHUCK — THE PRAIRIE DOG. 



THE family SciURlD^E comprehends the Squirrels, the Marmots, 

 and the Prairie Dogs. It is very widely spread over the earth, 

 being especially abundant in the North Temperate Zone, but 

 having no representatives in the West Indian Islands, Madagascar, or 

 Australia. It contains eight genera. 



GENUS SCIURUS. 



The one hundred species of this genus occupy the area of the whole 

 family wherever woods and forests occur. They are pretty little animals, 

 elegant in form, and rapid in movement. They are readily recognized 

 b)' their long tails, raised like a plume above their heads, and by their 

 abundant, clean, and glossy fur. The woods are their natural home, and 

 we see them passing incessantly from branch to branch, from tree to tree, 

 with wonderful agility, and untiring restlessness. Their usual food con- 

 sists of nuts, but at times they suck birds' eggs. 



THE SQUIRRELS. 



The European Squirrel, Sciurus Europcus, is usually of a ruddy- 

 brown upon the back, and a grayish-white on the under portions of the 

 body. It is, however, very variable in its color. It has a summer and 

 winter coat, the latter being always much lighter in its hue. In Siberia 



