BRITISH MAMMALS 
the Squirrel sheds its coat twice in the year, and that in summer the 
ornamental ear-tufts are entirely wanting. 
The Common Squirrel inhabits Europe from Lapland to northern 
Italy, and ranges throughout Siberia to Japan. 
Those in the more northern parts of its habitat are very grey in colour 
and provide a valuable fur. 
In England, Wales, and Scotland, the Squirrel is indigenous and common 
in most wooded districts, but in Ireland, where it is also now plentifiil, 
it is said to have been introduced by human agency in quite recent 
times. 
This nimble little climber is familiar to most of us in the country, 
as he passes from tree to tree among the topmost branches or swiftly 
runs up their stems in a nervous jerky manner when surprised upon 
the ground. 
Mr. Millais, in his Mammals of Qreat 'Britain and Ireland (vol. ii. 
pp. 147-148), has most happily described its acrobat-like behaviour as 
follows : " Often after its first rush to safety it lies flat and motionless 
against the trunk with all legs extended and head pressed close to the 
bark. If you follow it round to get a better view, it either ascends 
by scrambling rushes to the higher branches, or, if it considers the tree 
too bare, darts off along the stems to another and yet another tree, 
until it finds refuge high up in some dense pine or Scotch fir, where 
it is lost to sight. In such a position it will remain for hours without 
moving. When running from one tree to another it keeps its tail 
depressed, and it uses this appendage with great skill to aid in main- 
taining its balance when running along the slender twigs." 
The food of the Squirrel is varied, consisting chiefly of nuts and 
other seeds of trees, wild berries, the eggs and young of birds, and 
also the old birds when it can catch them. 
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