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Vegetarian bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

squirrel

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'vegetarian' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for squirrel that I've seen before include "Arboreal rodent with long bushy tail" , "hide away" , "Red, grey, animal" , "Brown or red rodent" , "Tree-climbing rodent which hoards nuts" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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