22 SQUIRRELS AND OTHER FUR-BEARERS 



fell upon that little pile of red, freshly-dug soil. 

 A little later I used frequently to surprise the 

 squirrel furnishing his house, carrying in dry 

 leaves of the maple and plane tree. He would 

 seize a large leaf and with both hands stuff it 

 into his cheek pockets, and then carry it into 

 his den. I saw him on several different days oc- 

 cupied in this way. I trust he had secured his 

 winter stores, though I am a little doubtful. He 

 was hurriedly making himself a new home, and 

 the cold of December was upon us while he was 

 yet at work. It may be that he had moved the 

 stores from his old quarters, wherever they were, 

 and again it may be that he had been dispos- 

 sessed of both his house and provender by some 

 other chipmunk. 



I have been told by a man who says he has 

 seen what he avers, that the reason why we do 

 not find a pile of fresh earth beside the hole of 

 the chipmunk is this : In making his den the 

 workman continues his course through the soil a 

 foot or more under the surface for several yards, 

 carrying out the earth in his cheek pouches and 

 dumping it near the entrance. Then he comes 

 to the surface and makes a new hole from be- 

 neath, which is, of course, many feet from the 

 first hole. This latter is now closed up, and 

 henceforth the new one alone is used. I have 

 no doubt this is the true explanation. 



