SECTION I.—(SCIUROMORPHA.) SQUIRREL-LIKE RODENTS.
FAMILY I.—SCIURIDÆ.
This first family, which includes the true Squirrels and the Marmots, is distinguished from the rest of the section by the possession of five rooted molars on each side of the upper jaw (see figure of the teeth on p. 85), the first being very small and sometimes deciduous, and four molars on each side of the lower jaw, and by the presence on the skull and zygomatic arch of small processes, indicating the posterior boundary of the orbits (see figure of the skull on p. 82). The molars are tubercular, at least at first; but the summits of the tubercles are generally more or less worn down as the animal increases in age.
COMMON SQUIRREL.
The true Squirrels, which may be regarded as the types of this family, are distinguished by their slender and graceful forms, and their long and generally bushy tails, the latter character having originated their classical name of Sciurus, as a compound of two Greek words, indicating their habit of carrying their tails thrown up, so as to shade the back. Our COMMON SQUIRREL (Sciurus vulgaris) may serve as a good example of this division of the family. It is too well known as a pet to need any detailed description; its elegant form and graceful movements, the rich brownish-red colour of its upper surface, contrasting with the white of the belly, and the beautifully-pencilled or tufted ears, which, combined with its bright black eye, give it such a lively appearance, must be familiar to every one. When full-grown, the Squirrel measures from eight to ten inches in length of body, and has a tail seven or eight inches long. British specimens are generally smaller than those from the Continent of Europe. It varies considerably in colour with the seasons, especially in northern regions; but even in Central Europe and in Britain the fur of the sides and back becomes mixed with a certain quantity of greyish-white hairs in the winter, whilst in Lapland and Siberia the whole upper surface acquires a grey tint at that season. In the summer also the ear-tufts diminish, or altogether disappear. In the Alps and Pyrenees, there is a variety having the back of a dark brown colour, speckled with yellowish-white. This has been described as a distinct species, under the name of Sciurus alpinus.
The Common Squirrel is a widely-distributed species. It is abundant all over Europe, except, according to Pallas, in the Crimea, and extends beyond the Ural Mountains through the whole length of Southern Siberia to the Altai and the Amoor region. It occurs in the Caucasus, and probably in Persia. Everywhere it haunts the woods and forests, living chiefly upon the trees, among the branches of which it displays the most astonishing agility. On the ground—to which, however, it does not often descend—it is equally quick in its movements. If alarmed under these circumstances, it dashes off to the nearest tree with lightning-like rapidity, and by the aid of its sharp claws rushes up the trunk till it has reached what it considers a safe elevation, when the little sharp face and bright eyes may be seen peeping at the intruder, apparently in triumph over his supposed disappointment.
The food of the Squirrel consists chiefly of nuts, beech-mast, acorns, and the young bark, shoots, and buds of trees. In eating the former articles, they are held in the fore-paws, which thus supply the place of hands, and the strong incisors soon make a way through the outer shells into the contained kernels, which alone are eaten; for in all cases in which the kernel is coated with a coarse brown skin (as in the common hazel-nuts), the Squirrel carefully removes every particle of this from the portions on which he feeds. The bark, buds, and young shoots of trees seem generally to be attacked by the Squirrel when he finds a deficiency of other and more congenial nourishment; but this is so regularly the case in the spring of the year, that these animals actually cause a great amount of damage to the trees in forest regions. Hence, not unnaturally, the Squirrel is regarded in forest countries as a most mischievous little animal, whose depredations are not to be condoned on account of its elegant appearance and lively habits. As another unamiable quality, may be mentioned its habit of plundering birds’ nests and eating the eggs, which appears to be established upon unquestionable evidence. In some northern regions the inhabitants turn their Squirrels to a more profitable use than putting them, as we so often do, into a sort of treadmill. In Lapland and some parts of Siberia, especially on the banks of the Lena, these animals are killed in great numbers for the sake of their grey winter-coats, which, however, are not equal in beauty to those of the north American Grey Squirrel.
The Squirrel passes the greater part of the winter in a torpid state, lying coiled up in some hole of a tree, where its long bushy tail is of service in keeping it warm and comfortable. On fine and warm days, however, it rouses itself from its slumbers; and, as if foreseeing the occurrence of such days, it lays up in the autumn stores of nuts, acorns, and beech-mast, upon which it can feed when it wakes during the winter. This winter provision is not laid up all in one place, but stored away in several different holes in trees surrounding the place of its own retreat.