278 
TIIE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 9, 1859. 
late to entice her back again when a return home was contem- 
jdrited. 
Acting on the impulse of the moment, the Marten Cat was let 
free, and a chase of the most exciting nature was quickly the 
result. The squirrel, evidently avoiding all approaches to inti¬ 
macy; whilst my pet was equally determined to secure the 
much-coveted prize. I willnot here dwell on particulars. Suffice 
it to say, after about ten minutes’ incessant pursuit the squirrel 
was captured and at once killed, and my even now-still-more, 
highly-valued favourite as comfortably housed again in her 
basket-carriage. In the case just named a somewhat thick 
hedgerow, together with the trees being yet in leaf, was a great 
obstacle to close observation : still this circumstance awakened 
in our minds the possibility of obtaining sport at no distaut 
period; possessing those essential concomitants of delight in such 
matters—viz., something unique, uncertainty of success, combined 
with a variable and excitable chase. After a selection of a group 
of trees, well grown, and evidently planted by some long bygone 
owner, for shade or effect, in the very centre of a field of some 
ten or twelve acres, consisting of an Oak, a Silver Birch, a 
Larch Eh 1 , and a Poplar—how anxiously was the time waited 
for when the deciduous portion of these trees would offer no 
hindrance to seeing a like chase throughout. Youth is always 
energetic, and generally more prompt than wise. Long before 
all the leaves had dropped we were hastening to this spot with 
a captive squirrel (only caught the day previously), bagged 
with all formality, and Lightfoot quite awake to the coming 
amusement; our destination the group of trees just referred to, 
and our hearts beating gladly with the knowledge. The fear of 
castigation by an unapproving preceptor was among the events 
only of days passed by. 
Arrived at our post, then, the squirrel was enlarged, and, with 
the rapidity of a bird, ascended the Silver Birch, but, almost 
instantly jumping into the Larch, disappeared altogether. 
The Marten Cat was now permitted its liberty also, but with 
feelings admittedly somewhat closely allied to fear it might prove 
missing also. For no really assignable reason the latter would 
not ascend the Silver Birch, although within only some five 
minutes or so the squirrel had as recently passed that way. 
It took to the Oak tree, however, without demur, and with at least 
an equal amount of alacrity to our now-lost quarry. Scent 
seemed (at all times) to have but little influence on its actions— 
in this ease, of course, none whatever, and it now actually came 
down again to the cat; the half-crown investment in the pur¬ 
chase of the squirrel being noisily voted a “ bubble scheme." 
It was not so, however; for in far less time than imagination 
suggests the chase was on in good earnest. The squirrel had 
scaled the upmost branches of the Poplar in some way un¬ 
perceived, and finding itself closely viewed, jumped outright 
from Lightfoot on to the Oak, passed as a shadow dow'n the 
opposite side of the trunk, ran at a few bounds to the foot of 
the Larch, and in an instant was a second time outsighted 
among some of its still dense foliage. But its pursuer was not 
to be thus foiled. Gliding, however (still, as not by scent), 
along the midway-intersecting branches of the various trees, 
seeming to proceed cautiously, as though looking out for a 
movement. On these occasions it would raise itself to the' full 
length of its forelegs, extending the neck to the utmost, standing 
perfectly quiescent, saving the tail moved to and fro excitably. 
If the object so carefully sought for proved distant, caution w'as 
the order of the day, and my pet then crouched and passed 
along the branches so closely, as to be but occasionally visible 
from below ; if, on the contrary, there were the possibility of 
capture, then quickly repeated rushes either at once effected its 
end, or at least afforded great pleasure to all save the pursued. 
Even the slightest movement produced a corresponding one in 
the aggressor ; there would then ensue a flight (for I know' not 
what more descriptive language to make use of) for many 
minutes without the slightest intermission ; the squirrel not un- 
frequently suddenly dropping from the very summit to the low’est 
boughs of the larger trees, and displaying a prehensile tenacity 
of grasp of the weakest sprays, w'hich the Marten’s conformation 
and weight prohibited. On some occasions the Marten Cat 
would actually run rapidly on the underside of the branches, 
evidently in hope to surprise; from this cause, sometimes, they 
were positively within a foot or so of each other, and in an instant 
twenty or thirty yards w’ould intervene. At times Lightfoot 
gave somewhat questionable proofs of the happy selection of its 
name, for it would make sudden passes with its fore feet, striking 
the fur from the pursued, and in one instance even entirely 
stripped the squirrel’s tail of every particle of hair; yet this 
hold proved not effective. Frequently the footing of both gave 
way, but never that I can recollect so far as to bring them to the 
ground : they simply became divided in their struggles, gained 
lower boughs, and the pursuit recommenced. 
At intervals both would pass round and round, the same 
branch ; if a thick one, in different directions ; sometimes all tut 
meeting face to face, yet just in time to avoid a most fatal iih 
terview, to one party at least; whilst, by way of reconnoitre, a 
perfectly quiet bo-peep over, under, and along the branches, 
would take place simultaneously. One quite unexpected feature 
in these sports was the the inordinate curiosity manifested by 
the squirrel if Lightfoot adopted a feint, not uncommon with 
her—viz., to stop at full chase very suddenly, on some thick 
arm, and there, with its fore feet placed against the trunk of 
the tree, wait in a nearly upright posture—the effect of over- 
w r eening credulity in the squirrel. This singular practice caused 
the capture of several, the little animal absolutely returning to 
ascertain what was gone with its foe. Many of the evolutions 
wore so extraordinarily rapid, the eye could scarcely follow them ; 
whilst others, indeed the generality, were of the most graceful 
character conceivable. Poor Lightfoot’s death was, doubtless, 
partly attributable to this fondness for squirrel hunting, as the 
youth who killed her stated, “ If she had notbeen popping about 
in the trees, close to the house, like a wild thing, he should not 
have shot at her.’’— Chanticleer. 
VARIETIES. 
The Oils of Ceylon. —Those most common in Ceylon are 
the cocoa-nut and gingerly oils. The former is one of the grand 
staple commodities of the island ; the latter is the produce of a 
small grain, grown exclusively by the natives. But, in addition 
to these, there are various other oils manufactured by the Cinga* 
lese. These are the Cinnamon oil, castor oil, margosse oil, Mee 
oil, kenar oil, meeheeria oil; and both Clove and Lemon-grass oil 
are prepared by Europeans. The first, which is the Cinnamon 
oil, is more properly a kind of vegetable w'ax, being of the dOfi a 
sistence of stearine. This is prepared from the berries of the 
Cinnamon shrub, which are boiled in water until the fatty sub¬ 
stance, or so-called oil, floats upon the surface; this is then 
skimmed off, and, when a sufficient quantity is collected, it is 
'boiled down until all watery particles are evaporated, and the 
melted fat is turned out in a shallow vessel to cool. It has a 
pleasant, though, perhaps, a rather faint aromatic smell, and is 
very delicious as an adjunct in the culinary art. In addition to 
this it possesses gentle aperient properties, which render it par¬ 
ticularly wholesome. Castor oil is also obtained by the natives 
by boiling, and is accordingly excessively rank after long keeping. 
The castor-oil plant is a perfect w'eed throughout Ceylon, being 
one of the few useful shrubs that will flourish in such poor soil 
without cultivation. Margosse oil is extracted from the fruit of 
a tree of that name. It has an extremely foetid and disagreeable 
smell, which will effectually prevent the contact of flies or any 
other insect. On this account it is a valuable preventive to the 
attacks of flies upon open wounds ; in addition to which it 
possesses powerful healing properties. Mee oil is obtained from 
the fruit of the Mee tree. This fruit is about the size of an 
Apricot, and is extremely rich in its produce ; but the oil is of a 
coarse description, and is simply used by the natives for their 
rude lamps. Kenar oil and meeheeria oil are equally coarse, and 
are quite unfit for any but native purposes. Lemon-grass oil, 
which is known in commerce as citronella oil, is a delightful 
extract from the rank Lemon-grass which covers most of the hill 
sides in the more open districts of Ceylon. An infusion of the 
grass is subsequently distilled; the oil is then discovered on the 
surface. This is remarkably pure, with a most pungent aroma. 
If rubbed upon the skin, it will prevent the attacks of insects 
while its perfume remains; but the oil is so volatile, that the 
scent quickly evaporates and the spell is broken. Clove oil is 
extracted from the leaves of the Cinnamon tree, and not from 
Cloves, as its name would imply. The process is very similar to 
that employed in the manufacture of citronella oil. Cinnamon is 
indigenous throughout the jungles of Ceylon. Even at the high 
elevation of Newera Ellia it is one of the most common woods, 
and it grows to the dimensions of a forest tree, the trunk being 
usually about three feet in circumference. At Newera Ellia it 
loses much of its fine flavour, although it is still highly aromatic. 
This tree flourishes in a white quartz sandy soil; and in its 
cultivated state it is never allowed to exceed the dimensions of a 
bush, being pruned down close to the ground every year. This 
