Common Chipmunk 351 



was it opened from the outside, and in each case I saw the 

 animal outside when I closed the hole. From this 1 argue that 

 he had but one doorway, and whatever he did with the earth, 

 it was not brought out of that doorway. Possibly in this case 

 it was stowed in some rock cranny under the drive, which was 

 founded on large stones. In July, though no longer persecuted, 

 this Chipmunk abandoned the hole, perhaps because of the 

 various annoyances, though it must be remembered that July 

 is the season when all the Chipmunks seem to disappear. In 

 August he reopened it, and dwelt there till snowfall said "bed- 

 time." In 1906 I renewed the battle, but desisted at the end 

 of summer. That Chipmunk holds the fort to-day, Septem- 

 ber, 1906, and has the satisfaction of giving a jolt to every car- 

 riage that too rudely passes his door. The species is known to 

 be wonderfully tenacious of its holdings. Where you find a 

 Chipmunk this year you are likely to find one next year, prob- 

 ably the same Chipmunk. This is a marked contrast with 

 the habits of the Woodchuck. 



One of the dens was opened ^^ in November, by Kennicott 

 who found that it had for storage " four or five enlarged cham- 

 bers, in different parts of the burrow, which was complicated 

 and consisted of several windings and intersecting passages situ- 

 ated not over a foot below the surface. The entrance to the 

 burrow was under a log, and the passages extended several feet 

 on every side. A large nest of leaves and grass was placed 

 above the surface, under the rotten log. Only one of the in- 

 habitants was found, but he was quite active." 



The young number 4 or 5, and are, as usual with the group, young 

 blind, helpless, naked, and almost shapeless little pink pillules 

 of vitality. The nest prepared for them is deep in the ground 

 and is approached by a network of burrows. So far as I 

 know the female alone cares for the young. By June they are 

 sufficiently grown to venture outdoors, and when half grown 

 they will follow the mother forty or fifty feet from the door. 

 In August most of the young Chipmunks are fully grown and 



" Quad. 111., 1857, p. 72. 



