1252 THE RODENTS 



they seemed perfectly at home among the boughs, although they never leap from 

 branch to branch after the manner of the true squirrels. 



In regard to its general mode of life, Dr. Merriam observes that ' ' the chipmunk 

 establishes his headquarters in some log or stump, or in a hole excavated by him- 

 self in the earth, generally among the roots of a tree. He is partial to brush heaps, 

 wood piles, stone walls, rail fences, accumulations of old rubbish, and other places 

 that afford him a pretty certain escape, and at the same time enable him to see what 

 is transpiring outside. For, though by no means wary, he delights in these loosely- 

 sheltered hiding places, where he can whisk in and out at will, peep unobserved at 

 passers-by, and dart back when prudence demands. If suddenly surprised, he 

 utters a sharp chip-per, r, r, r, and makes a sudden quick dash for his retreat, which is 

 no sooner reached than, simultaneously with the disappearance of his tail, out pops 

 his head, his keen dark eyes gazing intently at the source of alarm. If not pur- 

 sued farther, he is very apt to advance toward the supposed enemy, betraying his 

 excitement by a series of nervous starts and precipitous retreats, till finally, making 

 a bold rush, he dashes by the object of his dread, and in another instant is peering 

 out from a hole beneath the roots of a neighboring tree." The chipmunk does not 

 appear to make an agreeable pet, as it is apt to be sulky and morose, and disposed 

 to bit the fingers of anyone who offers it food. 



THE SUSLIKS, OR GOPHERS 

 Genus Spermophilus 



The suslik or sisel of Northeastern Europe and Northern Asia, and the striped 

 gopher of North America are the best-known representatives of the fourth genus of 

 the Squirrel family. Both in this and the two following genera the incisor teeth 

 are not compressed, while the form of the body is generally stout, and the tail either 

 short or of moderate length; the molar teeth being of a simple type. The whole of 

 the species are confined to Europe, Asia Minor, Asia north of the southern flanks of 

 the Himalayas, and North America. 



The susliks, as the members of the genus Spermophilus may be collectively 

 termed, are characterized by their somewhat slender and squirrel-like form, and the 

 presence of large cheek pouches. The external ears may be very small, or compar- 

 atively large and tufted, and the tail varies from a mere stump to eight or nine 

 inches in length. In the fore-.feet the first toe is rudimentary, but its nail is some- 

 times present. The skull approximates to that of the squirrels, but the first upper 

 premolar is relatively larger, and the two rows of upper cheek-teeth are nearly par- 

 allel to one another. The coloration may be either uniform or striped, but never 

 resembles that of the chipmunks. 



The susliks are mainly confined to the colder regions of the North- 

 Distribution ern Hemisphere, and have very nearly the same distribution, as the 

 chipmunks, although there is no species common to the Old and the New World. 

 With the exception of Eversmann's suslik (S. eversmenni) of Northeastern Asia, 

 all the Old- World species have short tails, while those of the New World are nearly 



