FAT SQUIRREL. 
'" 111 manners, and disposition, says Bnf- 
fon, " the Fat Squirrel greatly resembles the 
common species. It lives in forests; climbs 
trees; and leaps from branch to branch: with 
less agility, indeed; because the Common 
Squirrel has long legs, and a body more light 
and meagre. They both, however, live on 
the same food ; namely, Filberts, Chesnuts, 
and wild fruits. The Fat Squirrel likewise 
eats small birds, which it takes in their nests. 
It makes not a nest in the tops of trees, like 
the Common Squirrel; but forms a bed of 
Moss in the hollows of their trunks, or in the 
clefts of rocks, always chusing a dry situation. 
It abhors moisture, drinks little, and seldom 
descends on the ground. It differs still more 
from the Common Squirrel in this circum- 
stance, that the latter is easily tamed, and the 
former always continues wild. 
The Fat Squirrels couple at the end of 
spring:; and the Females bring forth in sum- 
mer, the litter generally-consisting of four or 
five. The young grow quickly; and we are 
assured that. they live only six years. 
" In 
