SQUIRRELS 9 



but mating freely with the gray, from which it 

 seems to be distinguished only in color. 



The red squirrel is more common and less 

 dignified than the gray, and oftener guilty of 

 petty larceny about the barns and grain-fields. 

 He is most abundant in mixed oak, chestnut, and 

 hemlock woods, from which he makes excursions 

 to the fields and orchards, spinning along the 

 tops of the fences, which afford not only con- 

 venient fines of communication, but a safe re- 

 treat if danger threatens. He loves to linger 

 about the orchard; and, sitting upright on the 

 topmost stone in the wall, or on the tallest stake 

 in the fence, chipping up an apple for the seeds, 

 his tail conforming to the curve of his back, his 

 paws shifting and turning the apple, he is a 

 pretty sight, and his bright, pert appearance 

 atones for all the mischief he does. At home, 

 in the woods, he is very frolicsome and loqua- 

 cious. The appearance of anything unusual, if, 

 after contemplating it a moment, he concludes it 

 not dangerous, excites his unbounded mirth and 

 ridicule, and he snickers and chatters, hardly able 

 to contain himself; now darting up the trunk of 

 a tree and squealing in derision, then hopping 

 into position on a limb and dancing to the music 

 of his own cackle, and all for your special benefit. 



