402 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



severity of the spring of the latter year. Nor is the commence- 

 ment of the long frost of January to March, 1895, in any way 

 specially marked in its effects as compared to the mild autumn 

 and early part of winter. No direct correlation between weather 

 and fur can therefore be established. 



In the large number of skins examined, nothing is more 

 striking than the very small proportion which are of any material 

 assistance in making out the chief facts, and it would appear that 

 the actual changes are accomplished very quickly in any given 

 individual, so that it is difficult just to catch them in the change. 

 About seven or eight skins only of the fifty-four are really in a 

 condition to show anything of importance ; the others merely 

 confirm the conclusions arrived at. Indeed, the fact of an 

 autumn moult was overlooked and denied until one specimen 

 received later than the rest conclusively proved its occurrence. 

 This mistake could not, however, have been made had the general 

 series come from a colder place than Dorsetshire, where, owing 

 to the mild winters, little variation of colour is caused by the 

 autumn change of fur. 



It may also be noted that young individuals should be alto- 

 gether ignored, for until after the first year they do not appa- 

 rently settle down to the regular cycle of changes, but are quite 

 erratic, and unlike the adults. 



Before entering into details, I may first state briefly the con- 

 clusions to which this series of skins has led me. 



I. There are two annual changes of fur in the Squirrel, so 

 far as its body and limbs are concerned ; but 



II. The long hairs of the brush of the tail are only changed 

 once, in the autumn, the spring change being practically sup- 

 pressed. 



III. The tail becomes regularly, and in all individuals, quite 

 white in summer,* and this change is effected by the gradual 

 bleaching of its long hairs, and not by their replacement. 



The difference between the body and the tail in their fur 

 changes is a most remarkable and unexpected fact, to which at 

 present I know no parallel instance. It will, however, very 



* It may be noted that a special name for the British Squirrel, based on 

 this peculiarity, has been in existence for more than a century : — " Common 

 Squirrel, beautiful variety with milk-white tail." — Pennant, Hist. Quadr. ii. 

 p. 406, 1781. Sciurus vulgaris leucurus, Kerr, Linn. An. K. p. 256, 1792. 





