2 THE WOS-KEE. 



seen. This is easily accounted for. The Columbia 

 ground-squirrel (Spermophilus Douglassii) lives 

 principally on acorns; and the oak ceasing to 

 flourish beyond the river, it becomes the bound- 

 ary-line both to the oak and its dependant. 



The Indians prize the Wos-kee both for its skin 

 and carcase, devouring the latter, and sewing the 

 former into robes. The Wos-kee gets as fat as a 

 tame rabbit, and hybernates during winter. A shy 

 active little animal, it is most difficult to obtain, 

 dashing into the burrows betwixt and under the 

 rocks on the slightest noise. They occasionally 

 travel out on the grass-flats some distance from 

 their retreats, and if frightened, elevate the long 

 foxlike tail over the back, and in a series of 

 most astounding bounds, make all speed for 

 home. In the absence of their favourite acorns, 

 they devour grass, roots, and the bark from any 

 shrubs comeatable. The fur is dark-brown, with 

 very long black hairs scattered through it. The 

 ears are long, and a whitish circle round the eye 

 gives the animal a comic expression, a kind of 

 pantaloon face. Chin and throat a foxy-brown ; 

 sides yellowish, divided from the darker shade 

 of the back by a wide stripe ; tail bushy, and quite 

 as long as the body, which is about eleven 

 inches. 



