sou 
and that only once a year. The period of their 
geftation is about fix weeks; they are pregnant in 
the beginning of April, and bring forth about the 
middle of May. 
The Squirrel never appears in the open fields, 
nor in the coppices or underwoods; but always 
keeps annong the tallefl: trees, and avoids as nnuch 
as pofTible the habitations of men. It is fo ex- 
tremelv vigilant, that if the tree in which it refides 
be only touched at the bottom, it inftantly takes 
the alarm, quits it's neft, and flies oft to another 
tree; and thus travels with the greateft eafe along 
the tops of the foreft, till it finds itfelf perfcftly 
beyond the reach of danger: it then returns to 
it's neft by paths utterly impaffable by any other 
quadruped. It ufually moves by bounds or leaps ; 
paffes with great facility from one tree to another 
at the diftance of forty feet ; and, when compelled 
lo defcend, runs up the fide of another tree v/ith 
amazing agility. It ufually exprefl!es it's fenfe of 
pain by a fharp piercing note; but it has another 
note, not much unlike the purring of a cat, by 
which it teftifies it's pleafure or fatisfaftion. 
Having already hinted- at the Squirrel's mode 
of failing, it may not be improper to give a more 
particular accountof this Angular exertion. V/hen, 
in their progrefs, thefe animals meet with broad 
rivers or extenfive lakes, which in Lapland are 
very numerous, they return into the neighbouring 
foreft, as if by common confent, each in qutft of 
a piece of bark, which, inftead of fo many boats, 
ferves to waft them over. When all equipped, 
they boldly commit their little fleet to the mercy of 
the waves; every Squirrel being featedon it's own 
piece of bark, and fanning the air with it's tail. 
In this manner they frequently crofs lakes feveral 
miles in breadth. But the little mariners are not 
always aware of the danger of their navigation; 
for though the water may be calm near the mar- 
gin, it is generally more turbulent towards the 
centre: an additional guft of wind fometimes over- 
fets the whole navy, and a fiiipwreck of three or 
four thoufand fail enfues. This dreadful cata- 
ftrophe is confidered as a lucky accident by the 
Laplanders on fliore, who colle£l the dead bodies 
v/hich are landed by the waves, feed on the flefli, 
and fell the (kins at a good price. 
The Squirrel is eafiiy tamed, and becomes a 
very familiar animal. It delights in warmth; 
and will creep into a man's pocket, his fleeve, or 
his bofom. It is ufually kept in a box, and fed 
with nuts ; and amply compenfates for the expence 
of it's fupport by the agreeablenefs of it's man- 
ner. 
The common Squirrel inhabits Europe, North 
America, and the northern and temperate parts of 
Afia. A variety of it is found as far fouth as the 
ifle of Ceylon. In Sweden and Lapland the co- 
lour changes to grey in the winter feafon. Black 
Squirrels are fometimes found in Ruffia and Lap- 
land ; and in many parts of England there is a 
beautiful variety with a milk-white tail. 
SoiHRREL, Ceylon ; the Sciurus Zeylanicus of 
Ray. This animal, which is about thrice the 
fize of the common Squirrel, is not included in 
the Linnjean arrangement: however, Ray and 
Pennant are both very particular in it's defcrip- 
tion; and therefore it's exiftence is unqueftion- 
able. It's ears are tufted with black; it's nofc is 
flefti-coloured; it's cheeks, legs, and belly, are of 
a pale yellow hue; it's forehead, back, fides, and 
haunchesj arc black; and it's tail is of a light grey 
SOU 
colour, bufliy, and twice the length of the body., 
In Ceylon, of which ifland it is a native, it receives 
the appellation of Dandoelana; and alfo Roekea, 
from the noifc which it makes. 
Sc^JiRREL, Abyssinia. This fpecies, which 
was firft defcribed by Thevenot in his voyage to 
the Eaft Indies, appears to be a variety of the Cey- 
lonefe Squirrel. It has a round fiefh-coloured 
nofe; the hair on the upper part of the body is of 
a rufty black hue; the tail is a foot and half long; 
the belly and fore-feet are grey; and the foles of 
the feet are flefti- coloured. It's fize is three times 
as large as that of the common European fpe- 
cies. 
There feems alfo to be another variety of the 
Ceylonefe Squirrel, rather than a diftindt fpecies, 
found in the ifland of Java, where it was difco- 
vered by Sparman. 
Sqitirrel, Bombay. The ears of this fpecies 
are tufted ; the head, back, and fides, are of a dull 
purple-colour; the belly, and the lower part of 
the legs and thighs, are yellow; and the tip of the 
tail is orange-coloured. The length of the body, 
from the nofe to the tail, is about fixteen inches; 
and the tail feventeen. 
This animal, which is a native of Bombay, was 
originally defcribed from a ftufl^ed fkin in the ca- 
binet of Dr. Hunter. 
Squirrel, Ruddy; the Sciurus Erythrseus of 
Pallas. This fpecies, v/hich inhabits India, is 
fomewhat larger than the common kind. The 
ears are flightly tufted ; the colour above is yel- 
low, mixed with duflcy ; and below,, of a blood- 
colour inclining to tawny. The tail is flender, of 
the fame colour, and marked longitudinally with 
a black ftripe. 
Squirrel, Grey; the Sciurus Cinereus of 
Linnaeus. The hair of this animal is of a dull grey 
colour, mixed with black, and fometimes tinged 
with yellow; the belly and infides of the legs are 
white; the ears are plain; and the tail is long, 
bufliy, and grey, with black ftripes. It is about 
the fize of a fmall rabbit; inhabits the fylvan parts 
of Northern Afia, North America, Peru, and 
Chili; and is extremely common in North Ame- 
rica, where it does incredible damage to the plan- 
tations of maize, by running up the ftalks and de- 
vouring the young ears. A reward of three- 
pence a head is allowed by the provinces for 
every one that is killed; and Pennfylvania alone 
is faid to have paid in rewards the enormous fum 
of eight thoufand pounds currency for thofe de- 
ftroyed in one year. 
Thefe animals make their nefts in hollow trees, 
and line them with mofs, ftraw, and wool. They 
feed on maize, pine cones, acorns, andmaftofall 
kinds. They dig holes in the ground, in which 
they depofit a large ftock of provifions againft the 
winter feafon. When in want of food, they de- 
fcend from the trees, in order to vifit their maga- 
zines; and, during the feverity of winter, confine 
themfelves to thofe fubterraneous retreats for fe- 
veral days fucceflively. They run up and down 
the trunks of trees, but feldom bound from branch 
to branch. In many particulars they imitate the 
manners of the common Squirrel; and are very 
eafiiy tamed. 
Buffon gives this animal the appellation of Le 
Petit Gris; and it's furs, which are imported under 
the name of petit gris, are very valuable. It's fleftii 
is alfo efteemed very delicate. 
SquirreLj Black; the Sciurus Niger of Lin- 
naeus, 
