SMALLER FOREST ANIMALS. 33 



instances of two guns having killed upwards of one 

 thousand head in a week. The grey-squirrel,* which 

 is even larger than the above, does not appear to be so 

 common, though I have seen it in tolerable abundance, 

 and it is much sought after for the sake of its beautiful 

 skin, which is used in the manufacture of caps, muffs, 

 and other articles of winter attire. Both these squirrels 

 are migratory, and move to the south when the cold 

 weather sets in. The black one is a capital swimmer, and 

 does not hesitate to cross the widest rivers in his course, 

 though I cannot bear out the report which gravely states 

 that " they are accustomed to cross the great lakes, using 

 their tails after the manner of a sail, and choosing a 

 favourable wind." 



An exceedingly pretty and very interesting variety, 

 which is familiar to all who have been in the forest, is the 

 ground-squirrel, or " chipmunk,"f which may be seen in 

 almost every wood. It is smaller than the common 

 British squirrel, with a tail much less bushy in pro- 

 portion. A specimen that I brought home is of a bright 

 fawn colour, inclining to grey on the back, along which 

 run three parallel stripes or bars at a little distance apart, 

 the two outer of a light cream colour, with a border of 

 deep brown, and the centre one of the latter colour only. 



* Sciurus leucotis. t Tamias striatus. 



X) 



