600 HABITS OF THE HACKEE. 
and a half in length. It is, however, slightly variable in dimensions as well as in 
colour. 
The Hackee is one of the liveliest and briskest of quadrupeds, and by reason of its 
quick and rapid movements, has not inaptly been compared to the wren. It is chiefly 
seen among brushwood and small timber; and as it whisks about the branches, or shoots 
through their interstices with its peculiar, quick, jerking movements, and its odd, quaint, 
little clucking ery, like the chip-chipping of newly-hatched chickens, the analogy between 
itself and the bird is very apparent. As it is found in such plenty, and is a bold little 
creature, it is much persecuted by small boys, who, although they are not big or wise 
enough to be entrusted with guns, wherewith to work the destruction of larger game, arm 
themselves with long sticks, and by dexterous management knock down many a Hackee 
as it tries to escape from its pursuers by running along the rail fences. Among boys the 
popular name of the Hackee is the “ Chipmuck.” 
It is a burrowing animal, making ifs little tunnels in various retired spots, but 
generally preferring an old tree, or the earth which is sheltered by a wall, a fence, or a 
bank. The burrows are rather complicated, and as they run to some length, the task of 
digging the animal out of its retreat is no easy one. In the work of Messrs. Audubén and 
Bachman is given the following spirited narrative of an attack upon the home of some 
unfortunate Hackees. ‘This species is to a certain extent gregarious in its habits. 
We had in autumn marked one of its burrows which we conceived well adapted to 
our purpose, which was to dig it out. It was in the woods, im a sandy piece of ground, 
and the earth was strewed with leaves to the depth of eight inches, which we believed 
would prevent the frost from penetrating to any considerable depth. We had the place 
opened in January, when the ground was covered with snow about five inches deep. The 
entrance of the burrow had been closed from within. We followed the course of the small 
winding gallery with considerable difficulty. The hole descended at first almost 
perpendicularly for about three feet. It then continued, with one or two windings, rising 
a little nearer the surface until it had advanced about eight feet, when we came to a 
large nest, made of oak leaves and dried grasses. Here lay snugly covered three Chipping 
Squirrels. 
“ Another was subsequently dug from one of the small lateral galleries, to which it had 
evidently retreated to avoid us. They were not dormant, and seemed ready to bite when 
taken in the hand; but they were not very active, and appeared somewhat sluggish and 
benumbed, which we conjectured was owing to their being exposed to sudden cold from 
our having opened their burrow. There was about a gill of wheat and buckwheat in the 
nest ; but in the galleries, which we afterwards dug out, we obtained about a quart of the 
beaked hazel nuts (Cérylus rostrata), nearly a peck of acorns, some grains of Indian corn, 
about two quarts of buckwheat, and a very small quantity of grass seeds.” 
Whenever menaced by one of the numerous foes by which so defenceless and 
conspicuous an animal is sure to be surrounded, the Hackee makes at once for its burrow, 
and is there secured from the attacks of nearly every enemy. One foe, however, cares 
nothing for the burrow, but follows the poor Hackee through its windings, and never fails 
to attain its sanguinary object. This remorseless foe is the stoat, or ermine, one of which 
animals has been detected in entermg a Hackee’s burrow, where it remained for a 
few minutes, and then returned, licking its lips, and appearing highly satisfied with its 
proceedings. When the burrow was examined in order to ascertain the amount of 
slaughter which the stoat had performed, one female Hackee and five young were found 
lying dead in their home, the stoat having contented itself with sucking “their blood, 
without deigning to eat their flesh. 
From the principal burrow the Hackee drives several supplementary tunnels, in which 
it stows its stock of provisions. The general nature of this store, and the amount of 
treasure which is garnered within the burrows, may be gathered from the account which 
has just been quoted. When the Hackee carries off the beaked nuts into its cave, it 
goes through its work in a very business-like manner. Fearing lest the sharp “beak” of 
the nut may hurt its cheeks when it puts the fruit into its pouch, it bites off the sharp 
point, and then deliberately pushes it into one of the pouches with the assistance of its 
