MAMMALIA. GLIRES. Squirrel. 255 



above, and four below, on eacli fide. Ic has perfect collar 

 bones. The hair on the tail is ufually flied to both fides. 



The animals of this genus are, in general, elegantly formed, and very quick in all their motions, 

 efpecially in climbing trees, and flapping about from branch to branch ; a few of the fpecies burrow 

 under ground ; they live moftly on the fruits, nuts, and feeds of trees and vegetables : Their bodies 

 are in general tolerably thick, having broad heads, with long oval ears, and fhort legs; the fore paws 

 have each four toes, with the rudiments of a thumb, and the hind feet have five diftinct toes ; the 

 tails are long, and clothed with long hair, which, for the moft part, fheds out on both fides from the 

 middle, both above and below, forming a broad thin fhade, which the animal carries over his back, 

 protecting both againft the fun and rain. Moft of the fpecies are eafily tamed, and become frolic- 

 fome, but bite harfhly when teazed ; they ufe the foles of the hind feet in walking, as far as the 

 heel, and fkip by leaps, rather than walk, when on plain ground ; they fit up on their liind legs, 

 when feeding, and hold their food with their fore paws. Some fpecies of this genus are provided 

 with hairy membranes, extended from the fore to the hind legs, by means of which they are enabled 

 to bear themfelves for a little time in the air, when leaping from one tree to another ; from this cir- 

 cumftance the genus is very properly broken into two fubdivifions, diftinguilhed by the want or the 

 poffeffion of this membrane.. 



* Climbing Squirrels. — Sciurifcandentes. 

 Which have no membranes extended from leg to leg. 



1. Common Squirrel. — 1. Sciurus vulgaris, r. 



The ears are terminated with long tufts of hair, and the tail is of the fame colour with 

 the back. Erxl. mam. 411. Schreber, iv. 757. t. ccxii. 



Squirrel, having four toes before and five behind, with long tufts of hair at the tips of the ears, 

 Syft." nat. ed. xii. i. 86.. n. 1. — Common Squirrel. Raj. quad. 214. Penn. hift. of quad. n. 166, 

 Arch zool. i. 122. A. Brit. zool. i. 93. Gefn. quad. 845. Aldrov. dig. 306. f. p. 39S. Joniiv, 

 quad. 163. t. 66. Schwenkf. ther. Sil. 121. — Eichhoernlein. Ridinger, jagd. th. t. 20. S. G. 

 Gmelin, It. i. .37. t. 7. Falk, Beyt. iiL 311. — Ecureil, or Squirrel. Sm. Buff. iv. 268. pl.lxxx. — 

 Ikorn, or Grafkin. Faun. Suec. n. 37. — 'Wiewiorka. Rzaczinfki. hift. . nat.. Pol.. 225. — The anato- 

 my. E. N. C. cent. 10. app. 449. 



a. Red Common Squirrel, — Sc. vulg. rufui. 



The head, body, legs, and tail, are of a bright reddim brown colour ; the breaft and. 

 belly white. 



Common red Squirrel, fbmetimes mixed with grey. BrhT. quad. 150. n.-i. — Sciurus vulgaris, 

 rubicundus, or, Common reddifh Squirrel. Klein, quad. 53. 



Is found all over Europe and the temperate climes of Afia- 



