COMMON SQUIRREL. 135 



a bright reddish brown, except on the breast and 

 belly, which are nearly white : these colours are 

 brightest in summer, and on the approach of 

 winter change to a greyer or browner tinge : the 

 eyes are large, black, and lively : the ears upright, 

 and ornamented with long tufts or pencils of hair 

 of a richer colour than that of the body : the 

 legs are short and muscular ; the toes strong and 

 divided to their origin ; the claws strong and 

 sharp; so that the animal can readily climb the 

 smoothest trees : on the fore-feet are only four 

 toes, with a claw in the place of a thumb or inner 

 toe : on the hind-feet are five toes : the tail is co- 

 vered with very long hair, so disposed as to turn 

 towards each side. In the spring these animals 

 seem peculiarly active, pursuing each other 

 among the trees, and exerting various efforts of 

 agility. During the warm summer nights they 

 may be also observed in a similar exercise. They 

 seem, as Buffbn observes, to dread the heat of 

 the sun, for during the day they remain com- 

 monly in their nests, making their principal ex- 

 cursions by night. Their habitation is so con- 

 trived as to be perfectly clearij, warm, and impe- 

 netrable by rain, and is composed of moss, dried 

 leaves, &c. and situated between the fork of two 

 branches : it has only a small aperture near the 

 top, which is of a conical form, so as to throw 

 off the rain. The young are generally three or 

 four in number, and are produced about the 

 middle of summer, or sometimes earlier. 



