SQUIRRELS.
[To THS EDITOR, OF THE "SPECTAT0R:1 Sia,—Your readers may perhaps be interested in the doings of some more squirrels, this time belonging to the North Country. At a house in the county of Cumberland it has been the custom for many years to feed the squirrels in the neighbourhood and on the window-sills of the house. The last two summers, whilst I have been staying there for some weeks, they became so tame that not only would they come into the room and take nuts out of our hands, but one of
them would climb up and sit on our knees and eat nut after nut with great gusto, even taking them out of my brother's mouth. One day the squirrel tried to mount on to the top of his cap; and was only deterred by his proposed seat com- mencing to shake in such an uncomfortable manner that he mistook the occurrence for an earthquake! We named our two friends 'Mr. Balfour' and C.-B.,' as the former would never tolerate the presence of the latter, so that poor 'C.-B.' had to make sure that the coast was clear before putting in an appearance on the scene. Last year they were joined by a most dainty little lady, whom they both treated with great deference. It is evident that they recognise us as individuals, as they will not come to us in the presence of strangers, and take some days to discover the return of their old friends. As stated in a letter in your issue of March 14th, they frequently came to the windows and asked for nuts if none had been provided for them, even going so far on several occasions as to enter the house and look for us if we were not visible.—I
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