> THE WOS-KEE. 
seen. This is easily accounted for. The Columbia 
ground-squirrel (Spermophilus Douglassii) lives 
principally on acorns; and the oak ceasing to 
flourish beyond the river, it becomes the bound- 
ary-line both to the oak and its dependant. 
The Indians prize the Wos-kee both for its skin 
and carcase, devouring the latter, and sewing the 
former into robes. The Wos-kee gets as fat as a 
tame rabbit, and hybernates during winter. A shy 
active little animal, it is most difficult to obtain, 
dashing into the burrows betwixt and under the 
rocks on the slightest noise. They occasionally 
travel out on the grass-flats some distance from 
their retreats, and if frightened, elevate the long 
foxlike tail over the back, and in a series of 
most astounding bounds, make all speed for 
home. In the absence of their favourite acorns, 
they devour grass, roots, and the bark from any 
shrubs comeatable. The fur is dark-brown, with 
very long black hairs scattered through it. The 
ears are long, and a whitish circle round the eye 
gives the animal a comic expression, a kind of 
pantaloon face. Chin and throat a foxy-brown; 
sides yellowish, divided from the darker shade 
of the back by a wide stripe; tail bushy, and quite 
as long as the body, which is about eleven 
inches. 
