The Maryland Marmot, called also the Woodchuck or Ground-hog, is found in the United States, is of a dark brown color, with long hair, and very short legs. It feeds on vegetable food, burrows in the ground; and is a favorite object of pursuit among boys.

THE COMMON SQUIRREL.

293

OF THE SQUIRRELS IN GENERAL.

THEY have two front teeth in each jaw, the upper ones wedge. shaped, and the lower sharp; five grinders on each side of the upper jaw, and four on each side of the under one. They have also collarbones in the skeleton; and, in most of the species, the tail spreads towards each side.

The Squirrels are for the most part light, nimble, and elegant animals: they climb trees with the utmost agility, and spring, with astonishing security, from one branch

to another. Some of them are provided
with hairy membranes, that extend from
the fore to the hind legs: these, when
spread out, render them more buoyant
than they otherwise would be, and
enable them to leap through consider-
able distances from one tree to another.
A few of the species form their nests,
and live almost entirely in the trees;
and others burrow under the ground.
None of them are carnivorous. Many
of the Squirrels may, with care, be ren-
dered docile; but when they are in the
least irritated, they attempt to bite. In
confinement they are generally very frolicsome.

THE SQUIRREL.

When they are on

the ground, they advance by leaps; and in eating they sit erect, and hold the food in their fore paws.

THE COMMON SQUIRREL.

This elegant little animal is equally admired for the neatness of its figure, and the activity and liveliness of its disposition. Though naturally wild and timid, it is soon reconciled to confinement, and is easily taught to receive with freedom the most familiar caresses from the hand that feeds it.

THE COMMON SQUIRREL.

In the spring these animals are peculiarly active. During this season they pursue each other among the trees, and exert various efforts of agility. In the warm summer nights they may also be observed in a similar exercise. They seem to dread the heat of the sun; for during the day-time, they commonly remain in their nests, and they make their principal excursions by night.

The nest of the Squirrel is, in its construction, exceedingly curious. It is generally formed among the large branches of a tree, where

they begin to fork off into small ones. After choosing the place where the timber begins to decay, and where a hollow may the inore easily be formed, the Squirrel begins by making a kind of level between these forks; and then, bringing moss, twigs, and dry leaves, it binds them together with such art, as to resist the most violent storm. This is covered up on all sides; and has but a single opening at the top, just large enough to admit the little animal; and this opening is itself defended from the weather by a kind of canopy, formed like a cone, so as to throw off the rain, however heavy it may fall. The nest thus formed, is very commodious and roomy below; soft, well knit together, and every way convenient and warm. The provision of nuts and acorns is seldom found in its nest; but in the hollows of the tree, these are carefully laid up together, and they are never touched by the animals except in cases of necessity, when no food is to be had abroad. Thus a tree serves both for a retreat and a storehouse; and, without leaving it during the winter, the Squirrel possesses all those enjoyments which his nature is capable of receiving.

This little animal is extremely watchful: and it is said, that if the tree in which it resides is but touched at the bottom, it takes the alarm, quits its nest, at once flies off to another tree, and thus, in case of necessity, travels with ease along a whole forest, until it finds itself perfectly out of danger. In this manner it continues for some hours at a distance from home, until the alarm is past; and then it returns by paths that, to nearly all quadrupeds but itself, are utterly impassable. Its usual way of moving is by bounds; these it takes from one tree to another at a very great distance; and if it be at any time obliged to descend, it runs up the side of the next tree with astonish ing facility.

The Squirrel seldom makes any noise, except when it experiences either pain or pleasure: in the former case it emits a sharp piercing note; and in the latter it makes a noise not unlike the purring of a Cat. The tail of the Squirrel is its greatest ornament, and serves as a defence against the cold; it is likewise of use to the animal in leaping from one tree to another.

In northern climates the Squirrels, at the approach of winter, change their red summer coat to gray; and it is singular that this alteration will take place in those climates, even within the warmth of a stove. Dr. Pallas had a Squirrel entirely red, brought to him on the 12th of September. It was placed in a stove. About the 4th of October many parts of its body began to grow hoary: and when it died, which was a month afterwards, the whole body had attained a gray color; the legs, and a small part of the face, alone retaining a reddish tinge.

THE GRAY SQUIRREL.

This animal is about the size of a young Rabbit; and, except on the inside of the limbs and the under parts of the body, which are white, its color is an elegant pale gray.