SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE COMMON SQUIRREL. 407 



remarks are based on Squirrels from Dorsetshire, one of the 

 mildest of English counties, and that no others have been 

 examined for fear of complicating the results. Variations in the 

 time of the changes may be expected to occur at other places, 

 especially in the north, and there will also no doubt be some 

 local variation in the colours themselves : — 



January and February. — Ear-tufts long, brown. Body-coat 

 long, soft, greyish rufous-brown. Limbs rufous. Tail grey- 

 brown, like back, but bleaching, especially terminally, to whitish. 

 Palms and soles hairy. 



March and April. — As above, but the colour of ear-tufts, 

 back, and tail more bleached. 



May. — Bleached and ragged pelage of body and limbs changed 

 for summer suit of rich rufous. Ear-tufts and tail continuing to 

 bleach and become poorer. 



June and July. — Summer dress : rufous head, body, and 

 limbs ; white thinly-haired tail ; ear-tufts disappearing, white 

 so long as they remain ; palms and soles naked. 



August and September. — New ear-tufts and tail-hairs, both 

 blackish brown, appearing. Body-coat still rufous, but less rich 

 in tone. 



October. — Body-coat changed for winter suit. Ear-tufts 

 lengthening. Tail commencing to bleach. 



November and December. — Winter dress : brownish grey on 

 head and body, limbs more or less rufous ; fur long, thick, and 

 soft, inconspicuously annulated. Ear- tufts long, brown. Tail 

 blackish or brownish, scarcely beginning to bleach. Palms and 

 soles hairy. 



In conclusion, I may remark that the above wonderful changes 

 in the British Squirrel are, both in effect and complexity, quite 

 unparalleled throughout the mammals of the world, so far as I 

 am aware. Had any such peculiarity occurred elsewhere it must 

 have been noticed before, but being at our very doors no one has 

 till now commenced any serious investigation; and the subject 

 has been dismissed with a passing remark on the "variability" 

 of our Common Squirrel. 



