BRITISH MAMMALS 

 the Squirrel sheds its coat twice in the year, and that in summer the 

 ornamental ear-tufts are entirely wanting. 



The Common Squirrel inhabits Europe from Lapland to northern 

 Italy, and ranges throughout Siberia to Japan. 



Those in the more northern parts of its habitat are very grey in colour 

 and provide a valuable fur. 



In England, Wales, and Scotland, the Squirrel is indigenous and common 

 in most wooded districts, but in Ireland, where it is also now plentiful, 

 it is said to have been introduced by human agency in quite recent 

 times. 



This nimble little climber is famiHar to most of us in the country, 

 as he passes from tree to tree among the topmost branches or swiftly 

 runs up their stems in a nervous jerky manner when surprised upon 

 the ground. 



Mr. Millais, in his Mammals of Qreat Britain and Ireiand (vol. ii. 

 pp. 147-148), has most happily described its acrobat-like behaviour as 

 follows : " Often after its first rush to safety it lies flat and motionless 

 against the trunk with all legs extended and head pressed close to the 

 bark. If you follow it round to get a better view, it either ascends 

 by scrambling rushes to the higher branches, or, if it considers the tree 

 too bare, darts off along the stems to another and yet another tree, 

 until it finds refuge high up in some dense pine or Scotch fir, where 

 it is lost to sight. In such a position it will remain for hours without 

 moving. When running fi-om one tree to another it keeps its tail 

 depressed, and it uses this appendage with great skill to aid in main- 

 taining its balance when running along the slender twigs." 



The food of the Squirrel is varied, consisting chiefly of nuts and 

 other seeds of trees, wild berries, the eggs and young of birds, and 

 also the old birds when it can catch them. 



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