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 tie 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 untillosing its foothold it falls into the very jaws of the 

 dog. 



