THE SQUIRREL. 
389 
have attained a height of twelve feet, but possibly 
they are drawn here only at certain periods in search 
of the cone seeds. During the summer they are all 
activity, but in October they prepare their winter’s 
stock of provision and their warm bed of leaves in 
the hollow of some tree at a good distance from the 
ground; after this they become lethargic in pro¬ 
portion to the severity of the season, but in all 
probability, notwithstanding they sleep a great deal, 
they awake daily for a longer or shorter period to 
partake of the food they have set apart to support 
them in these months. I have seen them descend 
to drink in the middle of winter, so that they cer¬ 
tainly are not perfectly torpid creatures at that 
period, save perhaps in the severest winter days. 
It is a highly endowed animal both as regards its 
mind and its body, as I had an opportunity of dis¬ 
covering by one I had in confinement in the 
commencement of the year 1834. This individual 
was young, and had been captured a short time 
before it came into my hands ; after remaining in 
a gloomy and disconsolate mood a few hours, he 
stirred out of his box and examined the room with 
great attention, and partook of some food I set 
before him. I then put a piece of woollen into his 
box, and this he presently appropriated, and on 
retiring to sleep he coiled himself up between its 
folds, and drew in by means of his paws the edges 
and ends of it, to exclude all draught and cold. He 
slept much and at intervals, being awake about six 
hours per diem, but as the summer advanced he 
became less and less sleepy, and considerably more 
active. He became playful, familiar and affectionate, 
but if interrupted at his repasts, displayed tenacity 
and anger, frequently snarling and biting if irritated; 
he had also a grunting noise when annoyed, and 
would stamp and hiss if disappointed. He was very 
timid, being apparently conscious of his powerless 
