LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
125 
limbs, but so slender that the insect looks like a 
bit of grey thread, to which some bent hairs are 
attached. It moves slowly and awkwardly, often 
swaying backward and forward, as if balancing 
itself ; but, from the length of its legs, it makes con- 
siderable strides. It has a sucker bent under the 
breast, in place of jaws, like the Bugs ; and the 
thigh and shank of the fore-leg are armed with 
teeth or spines, as in the Mantes, which, on being 
doubled together, fit into each other. Such was 
its slenderness, that in endeavouring to transfix 
it for my cabinet, with a very fine pin, I cut it 
through and destroyed it. I have taken one since 
from a peach-tree, and it is occasionally seen on 
people’s clothes after walking, but is not very 
common. 
The woods are frequently enlivened by the antics 
of playful Squirrels, of large size. They especially 
haunt the tall trees that stand round the houses of 
the planters, or possibly they smn to prefer these 
trees because they are there more under constant 
observation. There are several species, of which 
the most common is the Fox-squirrel {Sciurus 
capistratus). He is a beast of some pretensions, 
a full grown male occasionally measuring fourteen 
or fifteen inches in length, exclusive of the tail^ 
which is nearly as much more. Thus he greatly 
exceeds our little English species, whose manners 
Cowper so exquisitely portrays : 
Drawn from Ms refuge in some lonely elm, 
That age or injury has hollow’d deep, 
Where, on his bed of wool and matted leaves, 
He has outslept the winter, ventures forth 
To frisk awhile, and bask in the warm sun, 
The squirrel, flippant, pert, and full of play. ■ -- 
He sees me, and at once, swift as a bird, 
