SQUIRRELS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Has it been often observed that squirrels will swim ?- This morning (November 8th) as I came from Rydal a squirrel ran across the road and went up an ash-tree close to the bridge over the Rotha. I stood upon the bridge to watch it. After some beautiful flying leaps in the tree it descended to the edge of the river, as I supposed to drink, but it was bent on getting across, and as I was occupying the bridge it endeavoured to leap from stone to stone in the river (which, is now very low), and is, just there, full of rocks. Twice it jumped from stone to stone into the middle of the river-bed„ but each time found too wide a gulf of running water between it and the opposite stone. After trying two or three different routes it returned, plunged into the stream, and swam across, only its head and little paddling front paws being visible. The stream ran pretty quickly, but it got well across and scrambled up a rock on the opposite side, looking a forlorn little object, its tail a mere wisp, and one can hardly imagine- how it will ever get dry again.—I am, Sir, &c.,
FRANCES ARNOLD.
Fox How, .Ambleside, November 8th.
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