Chapter VI 

 Squirrels 



Red Squirrel 



'T^HE red squirrel is eminently practical, for 

 J- all his crazy antics and nonsense, which 

 to the casual observer might appear to constitute 

 his entire character. A more careful study of 

 his ways will, I believe, convince any one that 

 unlike the majority of wild creatures, he leaves 

 nothing to chance, though quick to seize on any 

 opportunity that offers to better his condition. 

 The conspicuous white circles about his eyes 

 always give him a rather anxious, startled ex- 

 pression, and when suddenly alarmed he has the 

 most affected way of sitting bolt upright and 

 clutching tragically at his breast with one bony 

 little hand, for all the world like some tragedy 

 queen on the stage. I think he almost invariably 

 presses his left hand to his left side, with claws 



195 



