SCIURUS CAROT.INKNSIS LEUCOTIS. 22 1 



is to be seen from where he walks, for each one, clins^-ino- to a verti- 

 cal branch or limb, constantl)' shifts its position so that it always 

 keeps out of sight on the opposite side. Everything- about this 

 breakfast is thoroughly enjoyed — -the early journey to the butter- 

 nuts, the ii)'ing leaps from bough to bough amongst the summits of 

 the lofty elms, the meal itself, and the bit of excitement attending the 

 alarm and escape ; each contributes its part toward the pleasure of 

 the occasion. The repast over, the Squirrels do not linger here l)ut 

 hurr\- to their liomes within the grove. The slanting sunbeam lias 

 pierced but not dispelled the drop of pearly dew upon the waving 

 crrass, when they are already well upon the way. One auda- 

 cious adventurer, more courageous than the rest, steals down yonder 

 tottering cross-fence to the orchard, quickly picks an apple from an 

 overhanging branch, and rejoins his comrades ere they reach the 

 wood. This haven once attained all constraint is cast aside and tlie 

 cautious, silent, and circumspect Scjuirrels of a moment ago become 

 the heedless, noisy, rollicking fellows that they really are. While 

 chasing one another about the tree -tops they sometimes clear a dis- 

 tance of more than twent)- feet (about 6 metres) in a single horizontal 

 leap. And when at full speed they often stop short, clinging head 

 downward to a smooth-barked beech, and utter their saucy, scolding 

 cry — qua-(|ua-qua-qua-a,qua-(|ua-(iua-qua-a-a,qua-(iua-qua-qua-qua- 

 a-a, qua-a-a-a, (^ua-a-a-a-a, — in an exasperating, impudent tone, 

 keeping time, the while, with spasmodic contortions of the body and 

 impertinent jerks and flourishes of the large and bushy tail. To 

 observe their utter recklessness during these gambols one would 

 suppose that nothing could be easier than to approach and shoot the 

 entire troop. Never was man niore mistaken. Despite their bois- 

 terous manners their e)'es are always open and they are ever on the 

 alert. Let some one try to get within gunshot and observe the 

 result. His very approach seems to render them invisible. Those 

 that were near th(;ir holes have disappeared within, and the others 

 are hiding behind the trees upon which they were sporting when the 



