90 Mr. J. E. Harting on Forest Animals.
naked and blind, towards the end of May or beginning of
June, when there is a good screen of leaves, be it observed,
to conceal the nest and its owners.
The bill of fare of the squirrel is a very varied one :
beech-mast, acorns, nuts, young bark (especially of the
birch), the cones of larch and other pines, leaf-buds and
tender shoots, mushrooms, fungus, and even truffles are
all eaten in turn. In search of many of these it often
descends to the ground, and hunts for and digs up the
truffle by scent. It lays up a winter store of provisions in
some hole of a tree, not relying upon one such hole, how-
ever, but filling several in case of accident. Occasionally
at least, if not habitually, squirrels will take birds' eggs;
and I have noted the testimony of an eye-witness to the
fact that they will sometimes also carry off, kill and eat
young birds.
In May, 1879, Mr. Thomas Bagnall, of Milton Ernest
Hall, Bedford, saw a squirrel in his avenue carry off, kill,
and partially devour a full-fledged young Starling, the
remains of which he succeeded in recovering.
During a great part of the winter, when the red fur
perceptibly changes to grey, the squirrel lies up in a semi-
torpid state, coming out on a fine day to feed on some of
its stores, and then retiring again.
In answer to the question whether squirrels are injurious
to trees, I must reply, "Yes; to some trees; chiefly in
plantations of Scotch fir, larch, and occasionally spruce."
They attack trees in the spring, between April and June,
when the sap is in full flow, biting off the outer bark, and
consuming the inner. This stops the flow of sap, which
there becomes dry and resinous, and the first high wind
blows the top off.
In the same haunts as the squirrel we may find that
beautiful little animal, the Dormouse. It is shy and retired
in its habits, and must be noiselessly approached if one
would observe its movements. It is partial to woods where
there is a thick undergrowth to conceal it, and amongst
which it makes its nest; but this is sometimes placed on
the ground.*
* The Zoologist, 1872, p. 2,908.