370 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



after winter had begun. On one occasion, 9,000 feet above the 

 sea, near Breckenridge, Colo, (in 1899), as late as October 31, 

 I saw one sitting up and eating under the shelter of a log 

 during a driving snowstorm. 



MATING I have no information relative to its breeding habits. 

 While observing a nearly related Chipmunk in the High 

 Sierra of California I found evidence that its mating season is in 

 September, although the young are not born till the following 

 spring. So far as known, this is not the case with the present 

 species. It is beheved to mate in April and produce some time 

 late in May. 



HABITS The habits and actions of these bright little creatures have 



been happily described by my friend and fellow-traveller. 

 Miller Christy: 



"Without exception [he says*] the Chipmunk is in its form 

 and movements the very prettiest little animal I ever set eyes on. 

 In it the fear of man seems to be entirely absent; it seems to 

 run away merely for fun, but for all that, you would almost as 

 easily catch a flash of lightning! It is incessantly upon the 

 move, climbing about and over everything as if exploring, and 

 always carrying its long tail bolt upright in such a ridiculous 

 manner that it becomes by far the most conspicuous part of 

 the whole animal. You may see one of these tails, with a Chip- 

 munk attached to it, dodging round a piece of wood and eyeing 

 you keenly, without the slightest appearance of fear, as if 

 roguishly trying to tempt you to catch it. But try! In a mo- 

 ment, with a shrill, derisive bird-like little whistle, the tail is 

 gone — you hardly know where, till you see it again a moment 

 later, going through exactly the same antics along with several 

 other tails. 



"Among the sandhills, a few miles from Carberry, stands 

 an old sawmill, which is usually deserted during the summer 

 months. Round this mill Chipmunks swarm. Their holes 

 run under its floor, and the creatures themselves are constantly 



*Nat. Hist. Journal and School Reporter, York, Eng., May 15, 1885, pp. 67-74. 



