cation.

There is also another animal, which I think is more numerous than
formerly--I mean the black squirrel. These pretty little creatures are
very destructive amongst the Indian-corn crops. I have seen them
carrying off a whole cob of corn at once, which I will be bound to say
was quite as heavy as themselves.

The form of this animal is very elegant; the colour jet black--with a
large bushy tail: the fur, however, is too open to be of any value. The
flesh is excellent eating, far superior to that of the rabbit. In a
good nut-season, in the western part of the province, the quantity of
these animals is almost incredible.

I have heard old hunters say that, if the squirrels are numerous in the
summer, the bears will be plenty in the fall, and also that their
numbers give a sure indication of a severe winter. This saying, I
believe to be true; because neither the squirrels nor bears are
plentiful, unless there is an abundant supply of beech-mast, butter-
nuts, hickory-nuts, &c., which Providence has kindly provided in more
superabundant quantity on the approach of a longer and severer winter
than usual.

Besides the _Niger_, or black squirrel, there are three other species
in Canada West; first, the _Cinereus_, or grey squirrel, which is
larger than the black squirrel. Its fur is something better, but the
animal is not near so numerous. Secondly, the _Ruber_, or red squirrel,
smaller than the last, but equally destructive.

The chitmunck, or _Siriatus_, or ground squirrel, is much smaller and
more mischievous than any of the former species. The ridge of the back
is marked with a black stripe; the sides are of a reddish yellow,
spotted with white; the feet and legs pale red; the eyes black and
projecting. These pretty little creatures never run up trees, unless
they are pursued. They burrow and form their habitations under ground
with two entrances. During the maize-harvest, they fill their mouths so
full of corn that their cheeks distend to the size of a hen's egg. The
chitmunck sometimes inhabits hollow trees and logs.

I have frequently cut down trees in which they had deposited their
winter-store, to the amount of half-a-bushel of beech-mast, Indian
corn, and grain of different descriptions. It is a very curious
circumstance that, before storing away for the winter, they carefully
skin every beechnut.

Towards the spring, when the days begin to be a little warm, they leave
their winter-holes and enter the