128 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
they lie warm and flexible, yet motionless, in my 
hand, the soft thick fur, mottled grey on the back, 
and pure white beneath ; the feet, the nose, and the 
ears, likewise spotless white, and the tail pencilled 
with long parted hairs of a delicate light grey. 
Truly it is a pretty little animal. 
Occasionally we see Squirrels differing greatly 
from this in ^colour, but of the same size and man- 
ners. One is almost wholly black ; another has 
the upper parts dark brown, and the belly rust-red; 
the latter is not uncommon. Both of these are 
considered by Dr. Bachmann, of South Carolina, as 
varieties of the Fox-squirrel. 
Stewed, or made into a pie, squirrel is excellent 
eating ; the fat is apt to be rank, especially of the 
males ; the meat is white, much like that of the 
rabbit, but superior in flavour. Roasted I do not 
much admire it, as it is somewhat flabby. 
There is a much smaller grey Squirrel, as com- 
mon as the former, but haunting somewhat different 
situations. This is the Carolina Squirrel (S, Caro- 
linensis ) ; it is coloured nearly as the Fox-squirrel, 
but the grey coat of the back inclines to rusty. It 
is much less active and playful ; frequents rather 
the dark sombre woods around the swamps and 
rivers, and hides under the long ragged tufts of 
Spanish moss {Tillandsia) that stream from the 
branches. Both kinds make a comfortable dray 
or nest in the fork of a tree ; externally of twigs, 
sticks, and leaves, internally lined with moss and 
lichen. This is not only for the rearing of the off- 
spring, but for the habitation of the adults, at least 
during the summer. 
The value of the flesh to make or eke out a 
dinner is not the only motive which induces the 
