COMMON SQUIRREL. 87 
as hands ; these have five claws, or toes, as they 
are called, and one of them is separated from the 
rest like a thumb. This animal seems to approach 
the nature of birds, from its lightness, and sur - 
prising agility on the tops of trees. It seldom 
descends to the ground, except in case of storm, 
hut jumps from one branch to another; feeds in 
spring, on buds and young shoots ; in summer, 
on the ripening fruits ; and particularly the young 
cones on the pine-tree. In autumn it has an exten- 
sive variety to feast upon ; the acorn, the filbert, 
the chesnut, and the wilding. This season of 
plenty, however, is not spent in idle enjoyment ; 
the provident little animal gathers at that time 
its provisions for the winter ; and cautiously fore- 
sees the season when the forest shall be stripped of 
its leaves and fruitage.” 
Its nest is generally formed among the large 
branches of a great tree, where they begin to fork 
off in small ones. After choosing the place where 
the timber begins to decay, and an hollow may 
the more easily be formed, the squirrel begins by 
making a kind of a level between the forks ; and 
then bringing moss, twigs, and dry leaves, it binds 
them together with great art, so as to resist the 
most violent storm. This is covered up on all 
sides ; and has but a single opening at top, which 
is just large enough to admit the little animal ; 
and this opening is itself defended from the wea- 
ther by a kind of canopy, made in the fashion of 
a cone, so that it throws off the rain, though nevet 
so heavy. The nest thus formed, with a very 
little opening above, is, nevertheless, very com- 
modious and roomy below ; soft, well knit toge- 
ther, and every way convenient and warm. In 
this retreat, the little animal brings forth its 
young, shelters itself from the scorching heat of 
the sun, which it seems to fear, and from the 
