Order RODENTIA— RODENTS, OR GNAWING 



ANIMALS 



Family SCIURID^. 

 Genus Sciurus. 



THE COMMON SQUIRREL. 



Sciurus. vulgaris, Linnaeus. 

 Plate 24. 



Passing the greater part of its life among the branches of trees, the 

 strong flexible feet and sharp claws of the Squirrel enable it to maintain 

 a hold of the boughs with the greatest ease, whilst the long bushy tail, 

 besides acting as a poise for the body, forms a warm wrap against the 

 cold. 



The length of the head and body is about 8J inches, the tail, 

 including the hairs, about 8^ inches. 



When in full winter coat, which is assumed in October by a moult, 

 the colour of the fur is in general a soft warm grey, as shown in the 

 Plate, relieved by the chestnut tints on the limbs and white under parts, 

 which do not change with the season. The tail, rather flat than cylin- 

 drical in form, is well haired, bushy, and glossy brown in colour with 

 a pale buff" tip. 



In summer the coat moults again to a more or less reddish chestnut 

 hue, and the hairs of the tail, which by this time are scanty, blanch to 

 a light bufi^ colour. Blyth appears to have been the first to observe that 



79 



