HOOD'S SPERMOPHILUS. 63 



I was unable to learn the cause. At length, as I 

 was about to desist from my endeavour to discover 

 it, I observed a pair of bright eyes watching me 

 from a burrow excavated under a flat ledge of stone. 

 At first I imagined it was a chip-monk, or hackee, 

 the well-known and extremely pretty Tamia of the 

 United States. To solve all doubts upon the subject 

 I spent some time in endeavouring to dislodge the 

 unknown creature, but my task was much more 

 laborious than I imagined. At length perseverance 

 was rewarded with success, and I secured the prize. 

 It was a scarcely full-grown specimen of Hood's 

 Spermophilus, the longitudinal bands and alternate 

 brown and white spots of which made it most at- 

 tractive to the eye. However, its temper appeared 

 so irascible, and its disposition so vindictive, that 

 although I had almost contemplated the cruelty of 

 making it a pet, I changed my mind, and performed 

 the kinder part of restoring it to liberty. 



Saddling the mare one morning, I started on a 

 journey of exploration for the country lying beyond 

 the eastern ridge of hills. While ascending the high 

 grounds at the back of my camp the surface of the 

 soil was very rugged, but the descent on the reverse 

 side again brought me to smoother ground. As far 

 as the eye could reach extended a wintry-looking 

 steppe, on which the only specimen of animal life at 

 first discernible was a very hungry-looking grey wolf, 

 who evidently was not favourably impressed with 

 my appearance. Riding a few miles further, I de- 



