"
This feat of the squirrel delighted Lady Mary, who expressed her joy at
the bravery of the little creature. Besides, she said she had heard that
gray squirrels, when they wished to go to a distance in search of food,
would all meet together, and collect pieces of bark to serve them for
boats, and would set up their broad tails like sails, to catch the wind,
and in this way cross large sheets of water.
"I do not think this can be true," observed Mrs. Frazer; "for the squirrel,
when swimming, uses his tail as an oar or rudder to help the motion, the
tail lying flat on the surface of the water; nor do these creatures need a
boat, for God, who made them, has given them the power of swimming at
their need."
"Nurse, you said something about a ground squirrel, and called it a
chitmunk. If you please, will you tell me something about it, and why it
is called by such a curious name?"
"I believe it is the Indian name for this sort of squirrel, my dear. The
chitmunk is not so large as the black, red, and gray squirrels. It is
marked along the back with black and white stripes; the rest of its fur is
a yellowish tawny colour. It is a very playful, lively, cleanly animal,
somewhat resembling the dormouse in its habits. It burrows underground.
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