Common Chipmunk 357 



provision for times of storm and scarcity, and it is in its prepara- 

 tion for the dread season that the Chipmunk is chiefly noted. 

 In the bright actinic days of autumn, when nuts and acorns are 

 showering down in the groves, the Chipmunk is toihng from 

 sunrise till sunset to take advantage of the opportunity; filling 

 its granaries to insure itself against starvation that comes stalk- 

 ing through these same woods, and not so very far ahead. The 

 soundest nuts and seeds are its choice. Never is it known to 

 defile its warehouse with flesh, insects, carrion or any of the 

 perishable things that it does not hesitate to eat if they fall in 

 its way while abroad. Its principal stores are hidden in 

 chambers carefully prepared underground in connection with 

 its home den. The ample cheek-pouches with which the species 

 is provided, enable it to take as much as a dozen hazel nuts to 

 its hole at a single journey. 



Bachman found -^ that they could carry four hickory nuts 

 at a time. I learned by experiment on a dead specimen that 

 four acorns of the white oak were as much as each pocket could 

 comfortably hold. 



Audubon and Bachman caught one with no fewer than 

 sixteen chinquapin nuts {Castanea pumila) stowed away in its 

 cheek-pouches, and they add: "We have a specimen now ly- 

 ing before us, sent from Pennsylvania in alcohol, which con- 

 tains at least one and a half table-spoonfuls of bush trefoil 

 (Hedysarum cannabinum) in its widely distended sacks." 

 {Ibid., p. 69.) 



As the calibre of its hole is about two inches, it is not 

 surprising that the Chipmunk often returns home with cheeks 

 so distended that it must turn its head sideways to enter at all. 

 The method of filling the pouches is admirably described by the 

 talented naturalist cited above. 



**Some years ago [he says^^] I watched one of these animals 

 whilst laying up its winter store. As there were no nuts to be 

 found near, I furnished a supply. After scattering some 

 hickory nuts on the ground near the burrow, the work of carry- 

 ing in was immediately commenced. It soon became aware 



* Quad. N. A., 1849, Vol. I, p. 70. '' Ibid. 



