154 on the ground squirrel, Fune 6. 
“There: are five-toes on the hind feet. The tail is, in 
most .of the varieties, strong and heen 3 in some of 
them remarkably so. - f 
The ground squirrel, of which an excellent figure 
_is given above, - inhabits the north of Asia; and is 
found in great abundance in the forests of North Amie- 
rica. The nose and feet -of this animal are of a pale 
red ; the eyes are full, and the ears plain. ~The ridge 
af the back is marked with a black streak, and each 
side with a pale yellow stripe, bounded above and 
below by a line of black. “The head, hody, arid tail, 
are of a’ reddifh brown, and the breast and ne 
white. 
This animal never runs up treés, unlefs when it is’ 
pursued, and cannot escape by any other means, It. 
burrows in the ground, and makes two entrances to 
ifs habitation, -that if one fhould be stopped up it may 
have accéfs by the other. Its hole is formed ‘with 
great fkill, having several branches from ‘the princi- 
pal pafsage, each of which is terminated by a store- 
‘house, in which its winter food is deposited: In one 
js contained acorns, in another nuts, in a third maize, 
and ina fourth the chequapina chesnuts, its favourite 
food. 
These animals seldom stir out during winter, nor 
so long as their provisions last: When these fail, 
they sometimes work their way into places where 
apples are laid up, or into barns where maize is 
stored, and make great havoc. During. harvest, 
they. fill their mouths so full with corn, that their 
cheeks are quite distended ; and in this manner carry 
‘it to their concealed store. They give great prefe- 
sence te certain kinds of food; andif, after filling 
