ANIMALS OP NORTH AMERICA. 75 



game, this, nature's constable, on first sight sets up his shrill 

 cry, putting all else around on their guard. His favorite 

 haunt is a cedar swamp. His habits are materially influenced 

 by climate ; at the north he forms deep burrows in the earth, 

 under the roots of trees to protect himself from the cold, whilst 

 further south he contents himself with the hollow of a tree. 



THE STRIPED SQUIRREL (S.striatus'), better known under 

 the name of Ground Squirrel, Hackee, or Chipmunk (the latter 

 probably its aboriginal name), is met with almost all over the 

 continent. It differs from the preceding species in having 

 its chief residence in the ground, while the others take to 

 trees. It is usually seen running along fences, and stone 

 walls which afford it a ready retreat. Under these it 

 usually makes its burrow, and lays up its store for winter 

 use. A favorite spot is the centre of some decayed or 

 decaying stump. It seldom ascends trees ; is of an irri- 

 table nature, resisting every attempt at domestication. 

 When alarmed, it immediately takes to its hole, which it 

 enters with a peculiar shrill cry indicative of safety, as much 

 as to say " catch me now if you can." In the fall of the 

 year it is very busy conveying grain. &c., to its winter quar- 

 ters, instinct warning it of the approaching season : and 

 really if some of our own species would take this provident 

 little fellow as an example, it would relieve charitable societies 

 of many of their cares ! There are many other species of 

 Squirrel, but locally distributed. 



The next species is the Pteromys, or Flying Squirrel. 



Description. Skin dilated on the sides, from the fore to 

 the hind legs, forming a sort of parachute : from the fore 

 arm is a bony appendage supporting the membrane. By 

 the aid of this membrane it darts from tree to tree, not by a 

 movement of it as in the bats, but by sailing downwards 

 obliquely, and rising suddenly when within a few inches of 

 the tree it wishes to alight upon. 



THE FLYING SQUIRREL (Pteromys volucella) is met with in 



