THE GROUND SQUIRREL, OR HACKEE. 599 
When undisturbed in its native domains, it appears to be an active and lively 
animal, and is remarkable for a curious habit of suddenly ceasing its play and running to 
the water side to refresh itself before it reeommences its sport. In drinking it does not 
lap after the manner of dogs and cats, but bends over the water, and thrusting its nose 
fairly beneath the surface, drinks a steady draught. After it has satisfied its thirst, it 
sits on its hind legs, and with its fore-feet carefully washes its face, occasionally dipping 
its paws into the water, as if to perform its ablutions in the most effectual manner. ; 
BLACK SQUIRREL.—Seiurus wiyer. 
The skin of the Black Squirrel is rather valuable, as it not only possesses the uniform 
jetty hue which is so universally admired in ornamental furs, but is also peculiarly 
smooth and glossy. As is generally the case with dark coated animals, the hairs are 
lighter towards the base, and partake of a slaty-blue tint. 
ALL the preceding examples of the Squirrel tribe ave remarkable for their extreme 
agility in climbing trees, traversing the branches, and making extraordinary leaps 
from one bough to another or from some elevated spot to the earth. The Ground 
Squirrels, however, are intended to abide on the earth, and are seldom known to ascend 
trees of any great height. As they possess cheek-pouches, they are placed in a separate 
genus, under the name of Tamias, which is a Greek word, signifying a storekeeper, and 
are separate from the true Squirrels, which are not furnished with those appendages. 
The HACKEE, or CHIPPING SQUIRREL, as it is sometimes termed, is one of the most 
familiar of North American quadrupeds, and is found in great numbers in almost every 
locality. It is a truly beautiful little creature, and deserving of notice both on account of 
the dainty elegance of its form, and the pleasing tints with which its coat is decked. The 
general colour of the Hackee is a brownish-grey on the back, warming into orange-brown 
on the forehead and the hinder quarters. Upon the back and sides are drawn five 
longitudinal black stripes and two streaks of yellowish-white, so that it is a most 
conspicuous little creature, and by these peculiar stripes may easily be distinguished 
from any other animal. The abdomen and throat are white. It is slightly variable in 
colour according to the locality in which it exists, and has been known to be so 
capricious of hue as to furnish specimens of pure white and jet black. As a fur it is 
extremely elegant, and if it were not quite so common would long since have taken 
nearly as high a rank as the sable or ermine. 
The length of the Hackee is about eleven inches, the tail being about four inches 
