5i6 



MY GARDEN: 



a lucid and convincing letter to a newspaper, with fabulous quotations, 

 to prove that these marks were made by a Northern animal called 

 an Uniped. He confided to me the secret, and was convulsed with 

 laughter when he stated that he could not persuade those who had read 

 his letter that such an animal as an uniped never could have existed. 

 These aforesaid marks are made by Pussy, who in walking brings the 

 hind-foot into the hole in the snow where the fore-foot had been before. 

 I have observed horses to do the same on crossing the snow. 



We very rarely have a visit from Squirrels {Sciurus vulgaris, fig. 

 mo), although they sometimes come to feast upon the beech-nuts. 

 They are easily tamed when young, and are charming companions ; 

 at times, however, they are apt to damage the curtains. I have had 

 at various times several as pets. They are hurtful in a garden, but 



.Fig. mo. — Squirrel. 



Fig. iiii. — Hedgehog. 



delightful ornaments to a wood, for it is extremely pleasing to see 

 theni skipping from tree to tree upon the interlacing branches. 

 " The squirrel, flippant, pert, and full of play." — Cowper. 



We have only once seen one Hedgehog {Erinaceus eiiropceus, fig. nil) 



in my grounds, though I have found the animal all round London. 



These animals are carnivorous, and feed upon beetles. It is a restless 



animal in confinement. 



" Hedgehogs, which 

 Lie tumbHng in my bare-foot way, and mount 

 Their pricks at my footfall." — Shakspeare, Tempest. 



Two species of Bats appear to reside with us, and delight us with 

 their flight in the evening. Why these interesting creatures should be 

 typical of the infernal i-egions is not easy to say, especially as they do 



