OEDEE OF EODENTLl. 481 



the trunk of the tree, and turns round it at the same time as her 

 pursuers, be it Man or animal, so as always to have it inter- 

 vening, at the same time ascending so cleverly that at last, un- 

 perceived, she reaches her destination. There she rests still and 

 invisible among the foliage until the danger has disappeared. 

 It is this ruse which makes it so difhcult to succeed in shooting 

 them. 



This animal swims very well, but will not enter water unless 

 compelled. Cleanliness it practises to such an extent as to employ 

 a large portion of its time in dressing its fur. Consequently it 

 never exhales an unpleasant odour. When irritated, it emits a 

 sort of growling sound ; but its habitual cry is a shrill note, that 

 not unfrequentljr betrays its presence. 



The handsome coat, vivacity, and gracefulness of the Squirrel 

 have attracted the sympathy of Man. Few have not known it as 

 a pet. Taken young, it is tamed with facility; but it never 

 shows markedly any traits of affection. When will people cease 

 to confine Squirrels in those horrible revolving cages, which they 

 wheel round, to the great enjoyment of the thoughtless ? Is it 

 believed that the animal's happiest moments are reached when 

 doing so? Until we have proof to the contrary, we may be 

 permitted to doubt such to be the case, and condemn the 

 incarceration as abominable crueltj^ 



Squirrels are found in all parts of the world, and everywhere 

 their manners are the same as the European species, to which 

 what we have stated is more particularly applicable. 



We ought to mention, however, that in certain countries 

 Squirrels do not live in isolated couples, but in numerous bands. 

 This is the only essential point in which the numerous species 

 differ in habits. Their size and colour, on the contrary, vary 

 much. Thus, the Squirrels of India and the Malayan Islands 

 are remarkable for the brilliancy and the variety of their coats ; 

 one of them, the Great ilalabar Squirrel, is more than twice the 

 size of the European, and even larger still is the Great Fox 

 Squirrel of North America. In the temperate regions of Europe, 

 this animal is usually of a more or less bright red on the 

 back, and white beneath, sometimes it is a deep brown, almost 



black. 



Elsewhere the pelage of the Squirrel varies in colour according 



I I 



