THE COMMON SQUIRREL. 



fore feet are flrong ; the toes are long and divided their whole length, which 

 enables the animal to ufe them as hands to hold its food with ; the toes of 

 the hind feet are likewife divided to their origin. This conflruction of the 

 toes is admirably well adapted to the animal's way of life, enabling it to 

 cling to branches of every diameter, and to run on them with the greatefl 

 fecurity. The tail of the Squirrel differs from that of every other animal ; 

 it is extremely long and bufhy, covered with long hairs, which fpread like 

 a fan, and, when erected over its back, ferves as a covering to the whole 

 body and head : it likewife affifls it greatly in leaping from tree to tree, 

 performing the office of a rudder. 



This animal tits on its hinder legs to feed, ufing its fore feet as hands to 

 hold its food. It never leaves the fupply of this necefTary article to chance ; 

 but, during the fummer feafon, fecures to itfelf a vafl magazine of nuts, 

 which it depofits in the hollow of fome tree, and referves them for winter 

 provifion. Its food during this feafon confifls of acorns, nuts, and beech- 

 malls ; but in the fummer it feeds on fruit, and the tender buds of young- 

 moots, particularly thofe of the fir, to the young cones of which it mews a 

 great partiality. 



The Squirrel is fond of warmth, and will creep into a fleeve or pocket, to 

 procure itfelf the enjoyment of it. It conflru&s its nefl of mofs, twigs, and 

 dry leaves, which it places between the clefts of the branches where the 

 tree begins to decay, and weaves them together with fo much art and 

 strength, that they refifl the impulfe of the .mofl violent ftorm without 

 receiving any damage from it. The nefl is covered on all fides except two 

 openings, which are left to enter at ; of thefe it always flops that which is 

 next to the wind : over the top of the nefl a kind of canopy is conflrueted, 

 fhaped like a cone, to defend it from the attacks of rain. 



The fpring, which is the ufual feafon for love, fhews its influence over 

 thefe little creatures ; at this time, Mr. Pennant remarks, it is entertaining to 

 fee the female feeming to attempt an efcape from two or three males, which 

 purfue her, by jumping and leaping from branch to branch with aflonifhing 

 agility. She brings forth from three to five young ones at a birth, about the 



