62 



vertebrates: mammals. 



rivers, and turning aside for no obstacle. Gray squirrels 

 occur of e\'cry shade from gray to jet black. 



The Red Squirrel is seen at all seasons and in all 

 weathers. In the northern forests, the deepest snows 

 of winter are soon covered with its tracks, and pene- 

 trated by holes bored to find the cones of spruce 

 and pine, and the nuts scattered or hidden beneath. 

 It often sits for hours upon a stump or limb of a tree, 

 and, holding a cone or nut in its fore paws, gnaws it 

 briskh' till it gets all the food it contains. If disturbed 

 while upon the ground, this squirrel runs up the nearest 

 tree, leaping from branch to branch, and tree to tree, 

 soon passing out of sight. Sometimes, when startled, 

 it commences chattering \\ith great fury, and leaping 

 about as if in defiance of the intruder. 



The Flying Squirrels have a thin skin, or membrane, 

 co\'cred with fur, \\'hich extends along the sides of the 

 bod)' between the fore and hind legs, and which, when 

 spread out, ser\es as a support in leaping from tree to 

 tree, and enables them to perform a sort of flight. They 

 are nocturnal, and therefore not 

 I >ften seen. Their nests are made 

 in the hollo\\'s of trees, where 

 large companies often live to- 

 gether. The Common Flying 

 Squirrel of the United States is 

 about five inches long, and the 

 tur is soft, silky, and yellowish 

 Ijrown. It is tjuite easil)- tamed, and, being gentle and 

 \"er\' beautiful, makes a pleasant pet. 



The Strijjed Scpiirrels luue cheek-pouches, in which 

 ihey carr)- grain and nuts to their holes, and they have 

 a shorter and less buslu" tail than the others. The 



t'ig-. 87. — Fl_\'ing SqLiirru 



