SQUIRRELS 



green woods he constructs a nest nearly as in- 

 genious as the more celebrated one of the beaver. 



When convenient, he chooses the nest of some 

 large bird for a foundation, and in this builds a 

 structure of moss, bark, pine-needles, and dead 

 leaves, with walls several inches in thickness, and 

 a soft nest of dry grass and feathers inside. The 

 bark used is of two sorts, the rough outer bark 

 of different trees, broken into small pieces, and 

 what appears to be the inner bark of the red 

 cedar, torn into narrow strips or ribbons to bind 

 the whole together. It is put together with 

 remarkable solidity, and usually freezes hard 

 early in the winter, furnishing a thorough defence 

 against the cold or any other enemy from with- 

 out. The narrow opening at one side is provided 

 with a hanging curtain of moss or some similar 

 substance, easily pushed aside by the inmates, 

 but immediately falling back into place and 

 effectually concealing the entrance. 



If unable to find a bird's nest situated to their 

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