MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA 161 
At first I thought him after the bulb of an Erythronium that 
grew near * * * Presently, however, he became compara- 
tively quiet. In this state he remained, possibly half a minute. 
He then commenced a vigorous action as if digging deeper; 
but I noticed that he did not get deeper; on the contrary, he 
was gradually backing out. I was surprised that in all his 
apparent hard work (he worked like a man on a wager) he 
threw back no dirt. But this vigorous labor could not last long. | 
He was soon completely above ground, and then became mani- 
fest the object of his earnest work; he was refilling the hole 
he had made and repacking the dirt and leaves he had dis- 
turbed. Nor was he content with refilling and repacking the 
hole. With his two little hand-like feet he patted the surface, 
and so exactly replaced the leaves that, when he had completed 
his task, my eye could detect not the slightest difference be- 
tween the surface he had so cunningly manipulated and that 
surrounding it. * * * It was now my turn to dig, in order 
to discover the little miser’s treasure. I gently removed enough 
of the leaves and fine muck to expose his hoard—half a pint of 
buttercup seeds, Ranunculus acris. I took out a dozen seeds or 
so, recovered te treasure as well as my bungling hands could, 
and withdrew filled with astonishment at the exhibition of cun- 
ning, skill and instinct of the little much abused denizen of our 
field borders.”’ 
The chipmunk often appears during warm days in mid-winter 
when it, in Minnesota, frequently feeds upon the bright berries 
of the bitter-sweet which can furnish but very little nourish- 
ment. 
It is amusing to observe how fear often takes possession of 
these timid animals. When pursued by a dog they will take 
refuge in some low tree entirely secure from their enemy who 
at once pursues what seems the most preposterous method, 
barking and tearing the earth and going into a spasm of rage 
in the most insane fashion. It often proves effective notwith- 
standing, for, from sheer terror, the rodent springs wildly 
about until losing its foothold it falls into the very jaws of the 
dog. 
