THE MUSEUM. 



149 



usually occupy the first limb of 

 the tree and appear to en- 

 joy the strange position. While in 

 this position I think they go to sleep, 

 at least some times, from the fact that 

 I once approached one from a distance 

 across an open field, that made no at- 

 tempt to escape, although his hole was 

 easily accessible. The first time I 

 ever saw one in a tree I did not know 

 what to make of it. I could only see 

 its fur and an eye, as it was rolled into 

 a ball. It looked to me more like a 

 monkey than anything else. I have 

 never seen one climb a tree but I have 

 observed one descend, and nothing- 

 can exceed the gortesque movements 

 of the animal. A third of the time it 

 is moving sideways, then again tail first 

 like a bear, and occasionally nearly 

 head first; never fully so though, then 

 as it neared the ground it rolled itself 

 into a heap and tumbled down. 



The nest or burrows are often found 

 in deep woods, but never in any low 

 ground. The animal appears to des- 

 pise water and I have seen burrows 

 where there was no chance to get wat- 

 er short of a mile unless going to the 

 farmer's well. Some one has attempt- 

 ed to show that the prairie dog digs 

 wells for itself, il so, then why not 

 the woodchuck; but I can assure }ou 

 that there are many woodchucks in 

 Ophtemo township of this state and 

 that there is no running, or lake water 

 to be had within a mile, and as to dig- 

 ging wells for themselves, why the 

 farmers have to dig ninety feet. 



My theor}' about the prairie dog se- 

 uring drink is similiar to the ground 

 hog's habit. The opinion is this: 

 The ground hog feeds largely at night, 

 as does the marmot, and as dews often 



tall heavily the animals are supplied, 

 as sheep often obtain their drink for 

 weeks at a stretch. 



The ground hog is considered a har- 

 binger of spring, either for good or bad, 

 and an eariy spring depends on his see- 

 ing his shadow or not. If he sees his 

 shadow on Februar}' second then the 

 sun shone, and he returns to his bur- 

 row and will not reappear for two 

 months. I do not think the wood- 

 chuck appears outside of his burrow 

 one season out of ten before February 

 twentieth, and then the season must 

 be very early. When he issues at an 

 early date it is for the purpose of seek- 

 ing his mate, and not to cause specu- 

 lation upon the weather among the ig- 

 norant. 



Strii^ped Pkairie Squirrel; Gopher. 

 Spcnuophihis tridcccmlincatus, Mitch. 



A common burrowing rodent. More 

 often found on sandy and sandy clay 

 soil. Not as often on low lands. I 

 cannot see that the name prairie is 

 particularly applicable as I have found 

 it more numerous when white oak 

 woods have been cleared rather than 

 on prairies. Lives entirely in bur- 

 rows. It is a pestiferous little creat- 

 ure to the fanner. I have no doubt it 

 necessarily feeds on roots and grasses, 

 and from necessity destroys corn, 

 wheat and oat roots. Has a peculiar 

 cry, quite odd, by which it may be 

 detected at some distance. 



The >oung are nearly full grown at 

 harvest time, and nests full of both 

 old and young may be drowned out to 

 the amusement of small boys and 

 dogs. 



Gray Spermophile. 



Spcrmopliihis fronk/inii, Sabine. 



One specimen taken in our state, in 



