354 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



their minds to come down, especially if their inspection shows 

 that no dog is about. In spite of sticks and shouts they 

 descend till almost within reach, then with a final rush they 

 reach the ground and usually some safe refuge that they had 

 decided on while up aloft. 



SWIM- An exciting chase of a Chipmunk by a Brown Weasel is 



MING 



described by J. W. Curran, of Montreal, in "Forest and 

 Stream" for June 2, 1900. It happened at Lake Couchiching, 

 Ont., in July, 1899. The Chipmunk took to the water, closely 

 followed by the Weasel. After a chase of 100 yards the former 

 drew away from his foe and escaped. 



FOOD The food of the Chipmunk is chiefly seeds, berries, and 



nuts, but insects, flesh, and birds' eggs also enter into its summer 

 bill of fare. 



Kennicott says:^^ "Like the true Squirrels, the Chip- 

 munks are properly nut-eaters, though they feed rather more on 

 the seeds of small plants than their arboreal relatives; nor do 

 they subsist upon the buds of trees." But several naturahsts 

 have testified that the Chipmunk does not confine itself to 

 vegetable diet. A. J. Cook, of Lansing, Mich., states ^^ that a 

 Chipmunk was observed nibbling at a snake that had been 

 recently killed. He could hardly be driven away, and soon 

 returned to his feast when his tormentors had withdrawn to a 

 short distance. A still more remarkable incident is recorded " 

 by Alexander Wilson, the Ornithologist. It shows that the 

 Chipmunk is as omnivorous as any of its omnivorous tribe, and 

 can on occasion play the part of a Httle tiger in its own little 

 world. 



" My venerable friend, Mr. William Bartram, informs me 

 that he saw one of these birds [spotted sandpiper] defend her 

 young for a considerable time from the repeated attacks of a 

 Ground-squirrel. The scene of action was the river shore. 

 The parent had thrown herself with her two young behind her 



"Quad. 111., 1857, p. 71. ''Am. Nat., March, 1870, p. 58. 



" Am. Cm., Vol. II, pp. 342-3. 



