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long and has. a scaly covering similar to the rat. It is 

 very flexible and the animal makes good use of it in 

 climbing among the branches of the trees. It also sus- 

 pends itself from the limbs at pleasure. It is a noc- 

 turnal animal, sleeping through the day and coming 

 forth at night in search of food, which consists of 

 eggs, small birds, and other fowL They are great 

 travelers and usually scour a large area of country 

 during the night. When approached they always 

 feign death and appear altogether lifeless, but should 

 the observer go away for a time they quickly get up 

 and make off. Their speed is not very great. Their 

 home is a hollow tree in the woods. Sometimes a 

 number of them live together: especially is this the case 

 in the south where there are many of them and where 

 the hunting of them is a source of much enjoyment, 

 pleasure and excitement. Being done in the night 

 and accompanied by torch-light the merry hunters 

 make the forest resound with shouts and laughter. 

 They are highly prized for food by some persons. The 

 flesh is said to taste something like pork. Their skins 

 are used in the fur line. 



SQUIRRELS. 



(Sciurus Europaeiis.) 

 These are beautiful little animals and may be seen at 

 all periods of the year, but of course more frequently 

 in the summer season. Their bodies are long and slen- 

 der and are covered with fine fur. Their tails are large 

 and bushy. This family lives principally upon fruit 

 and nuts which they gather in summer in large 

 quantities, and store away in some hollow tree, for use 



