THE LIFE OF MAMMALS 
to uncurl its tightly folded form or evincing the faintest signs of returning 
animation. Naught but the voice of summer — barring such artificial 
methods as exposure to a hot fire — will open again the great, pathetic 
eyes, for all the world like a couple of black boot-buttons, or rouse into 
being the active life which lies dormant within the sluggish limbs.” 
Squirrels, Scaletails, Prairie Dogs, Woodchucks, and 
Beavers 
In this third company of the rodents we shall find many 
familiar and engaging friends, — none more so than the squir- 
rels, — agile, graceful, alert, 
curious, full of business, 
noisy, irascible, “fat and 
sassy,” finding their home 
in the trees, under the 
double umbrage of the fo- 
lage and their own shady 
tails. These long, bushy 
tails, curving so gracefully 
over the back, forming so 
warm a blanket when 
wrapped about the sleeping 
owner, and always so ex- 
pressive, are the badge and 
pride of the tribe. In 
—— aes color, squirrels range from 
Saucy RED SQUIRREL, gray, with black varieties 
frequent, through various 
browns and foxy reds to the deep chestnut or orange markings 
of some Oriental and Mexican beauties; and in general are so 
variable that too eager naturalists have been misled into giving 
specific names to hundreds of mere varieties. Even now no less 
than ten geographic races of our red squirrel alone are recognized. 
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