What a graceful little animal this is!

Do you know his name?

Oh, yes! this is Mr. Squirrel,

active little creature.

a very

This little squirrel lives in the woods, and spends most of his time in trees, which he climbs so nimbly.

Watch him as he leaps from branch to branch or from tree to tree.

There he goes! Will he fall? Oh, no,

I think not; for he seldom misses a branch. If he should, it would do him no harm, for in leaping he spreads out his tail and legs, so that if he fails to reach a branch he comes to the ground without harm.

The squirrel's long, slender body is covered with soft, beautiful fur. See how gracefully he carries his long, bushy tail curved over his back. His tail not only aids him in jumping, but it serves as a cloak which he wraps about him when he sleeps. His legs are short and slender. There are four long, slender toes on

each fore foot and five

toes on each hind foot. Each toe has a long

claw, which is sharp and thin, and curved at the tip.

The squirrel's feet show us that he is made to climb trees. If you watch him running down a tree you will see that he turns his toes so that the nails point backward.

Now you know why he can run down

a tree as easily as he runs up one.

HOW THE SQUIRREL EATS HIS FOOD.

Did you ever watch a squirrel eat? Look at this one. He sits on his haunches, holds the nut

in his fore paws, and just nibbles and nibbles until he breaks the shell. Indeed, I think his teeth must be very sharp to do this.

How does the squirrel sharpen his teeth when they become dull?

The squirrel's teeth never get dull. Every nibble that he gives the nut sharpens his teeth. Isn't it strange?

When I cut hard things with my knife,

the edge gets dull, but nibbling and gnawing sharpen a squirrel's teeth.

Here is a squirrel's tooth. Look at it carefully. What shape is it?

Oh, I see! it is

shaped just like a chisel. It is a chisel

shaped tooth.

Would you like to

have me tell you how

the squirrel keeps his teeth the shape of a chisel?

Teeth are made of bone and enamel. The glossy outside part of most teeth is enamel. The enamel is much harder than the bony part.

Only the front part of the squirrel's teeth is covered with enamel.

When the squirrel gnaws, the back part of the tooth wears away faster than the front part, leaving a sharp, cutting edge on the enamel.

The squirrel has four chisel-shaped incisors, two in each jaw. These teeth

If

grow as long as the squirrel lives. he should stop gnawing, the front teeth would become so long that he could not eat.

So we find the squirrel's teeth are made for gnawing, and he must gnaw to keep his teeth the right length.

The back teeth are broad and rough.

Between the incisors and the molars there is a space in which there are no teeth.

The squirrel eats nuts, acorns, wheat, and other fruits. Sometimes he eats eggs and insects.

In the fall of the year the squirrel is very busy gathering nuts for winter use. These he hides in nooks, cracks, and holes near the tree in which he lives.

He always remembers where these storehouses are. Even if the ground is covered with snow he can go to them, scratch away the snow, and get his food.

Don't you think he is a wise little creature?