190 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



quivering of the tail, and heard to perfection when it has just escaped 

 a Dog by running up a tree — with not an instant to spare, for it seems 

 to enjoy the risk, and turns round at a safe distance to vituperate 

 its enraged enemy. 



It makes its nest in the branches of a tree or under a roof, and 

 two to four young are produced in a litter ; they are at first blind and 

 helpless, as in most rodents. Many are reared by hand to be kept 

 as pets — in Calcutta at any rate; but, for some reason or other, this 

 species is quite scarce in the hands of English animal dealers, though 

 they often have other foreign Squirrels, especially the beautiful Prevost's 

 Squirrel {Sciurus prevosti) of the East Indies, which is brilliantly 

 coloured with jet-black, bright chestnut, pure white, and iron-grey. 

 There are many species of typical Squirrels, some as big as Cats, 

 and others as small as Mice, but all presenting a strong family like- 

 ness. There is only room here to say a few words about our own 

 ^species, which is, to my mind, about the prettiest of any. 



THE COMMON SQUIRREL 



{Sciurus vulgaris) 



The Common Squirrel is common not only in our islands, but all across the 

 Northern portion of the Old World, even to Japan. The red colour so character- 

 istic of it with us is not constant through all its range, Siberian specimens being 

 mostly grey ; it is these, having finer fur than our Squirrels, which furnish the 

 Squirrel-skins so largely used for ladies' attire. Even in Britain the Squirrel is 

 much less red in winter than in summer, and in the latter season the ornamental 

 tufts on the ears are absent. 



The active habits of the Squirrel are well known, and also his unfortunate 

 destructiveness in woods, owing to his habit of eating the shoots and bark of trees. 

 He is also an enemy to birds, whose nests he pillages of both eggs and young. 

 On the whole, however, except when very numerous, he does so little harm that 

 his many engaging qualities justify his preservation. The home of the Squirrel is a 

 "drey," or domed nest, somewhat like that of a Magpie, and usually built high up 

 in the small branches of a tree. In one of these abodes the young are born, usually 

 early in spring — two or three is the common number. When taken and hand- 

 reared they make, as is well known, most charming pets, and can be allowed to go 



