THE CHIPMUNK. 



(Tamias lysteri.} 



C. C. M. 



NATURALISTS, as well as many 

 ordinary observers, it is said, 

 recognize numerous varieties 

 among the chipmunks of the 

 United States, founded principally on 

 the markings of the fur; for in their 

 habits they are all very similar. Elliott 

 Coues describes four varieties found in 

 this country. 



The American chipmunk, hackee, or 

 chipping squirrel (Tamias lysteri) is 

 distributed all over the United States. 

 The face is of a reddish brown tint, 

 with darker spots on the forehead and 

 cheeks; the nape of the neck is ashen 

 gray, the hind-quarters reddish brown, 

 the under surface whitish; there is a 

 dark-brown stripe on the back, a black 

 stripe over the eye, with white above 

 and below it, and there is a wide white 

 side-streak edged with blackish brown; 

 the upper surface of the tail is dark- 

 brown, the base being grayish yellow, 

 the tip whitish and the lower surface a 

 ruddy hue. 



This description may seem super 

 fluous, in view of our picture of the 

 lively little animal; we think, however, 

 it may induce closer observation of the 

 markings of its fur. 



The chipmunk is visible at all sea 

 sons of the year, but late in summer it 

 may be seen running about, "its cheek 

 pouches filled and its eyes beaming 

 with the satisfaction which its riches 

 afford it." According to the different 

 months in which they mature, it gath 

 ers its varied stores, for the most part 

 consisting of buckwheat, hazelnuts 

 maple seeds, and corn. During the 

 winter it hibernates to some extent, but 

 it seems to stand in need of food during 

 the whole winter. Audubon dug up a 

 burrow in January, and at the depth of 

 about four feet he found a large nest of 

 leaves and grass in which were three 

 chipmunks; others seemed to have dis 

 appeared in the lateral passages at the 

 approach of the diggers. The animals 

 were overcome with sleep and not very 

 active, but they were not as torpid as 



true hibernating animals are, and they 

 snapped viciously at the naturalist, who 

 tried to handle them. The animal 

 does not become torpid before Novem 

 ber. It does not leave its subterranean 

 home during the winter, but keeps a 

 passage open. When the snow melts 

 it begins its activity above ground. 



The young are born in May, and a 

 second litter usually in August. It is 

 said the males engage in fierce combats 

 during the breeding-season. 



The farmer is not very friendly to 

 this animal, which he regards as a pest. 

 It is hunted extensively. A whole 

 army of enemies is constantly engaged 

 in its pursuit. "Boys utilize it to prac 

 tice the noble sport of hunting; weasels 

 pursue it both on andunder the ground; 

 cats deem it a prey equally as good as 

 rats and mice, and all larger birds of 

 prey carry it off whenever they have a 

 chance. One of these birds has even 

 gained for itself the name of squirrel- 

 hawk, because of its attacks on the 

 chipmunk." The rattlesnake, accord 

 ing to the observations of Geyer, also 

 follows the poor little creature with a 

 great deal of perseverance. Winter 

 often causes sad havoc among the 

 numerous young brood born in sum 

 mer. Yet they are very plentiful, at 

 least in favorable years, the great 

 fecundity of the female making up for 

 the losses. Their chief protection 

 against enemies is the difficulty in 

 finding them and the amazing nimble- 

 ness they display as they dart between 

 and under hedges like wrens. 



The beauty and gracefulness of the 

 ground-squirrels render them interest 

 ing pets, but as they never become 

 quite tame, are timid and addicted to 

 biting, and gnaw everything in the 

 cage they are not very desirable to 

 keep. Their care presents no diffi 

 culties, and they thrive well on the 

 simplest diet of grain and fruit. 



Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, N. 

 Y.. is suffering for the second time in 

 its history from a too great increase in 



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