16 DECEMBER 1949, Page 18

A Squirrel Country It should please countrymen, who in many

'districts miss the brown squirrels that once were plentiful, to know that they still abound here and there. One favourite ground appears to be Sheffield ! Here is the pretty experience of a fond dweller on the outskirts of that rural town. Out of the many that come to the garden, one ventures into the house. On waking, the householder saw this squirrel slip through the window and descend on to the dressing-table. After a tour of- inspection, it discovered a bottle of oil of lavender which it took up in both hands and licked all over and round the stopper several times, with obvious enjoyment. Other visitors to the dressing-table left evidence of their presence. A paper-bag of toffees which had been there for quite a short while was ravaged. The toffees were scattered over the table and some ol the wrappings torn off: and the floor was littered with torn morsels of th. bag. The authors of the mischief were, of course, tits, whose paper tearing practices have just begun to prevail in Yorkshire, and where, also they have discovered a taste for raspberries. If these are netted, tti: birds—it is alleged—jump on the net till it sinks to the fruit !