150 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



Phots by Schtlaitic Photo. Co.] [Parson's Green 



LONG-TAILED MARMOT 



The marmots live by preference on high and cold mountains just below) the line 

 of eternal snow in Europe. In Aua y where the snow-line is higher, they are found 

 at altitudes of 12,000 feet 



of the tail. Many of the tropical fly- 

 ing-squirrels are quite large animals, 

 some being as large as a small cat. 



Mr. W. H. Adams says of PEL'S 

 FLYING-SQUIRREL, a West African 

 species : " These squirrels come out 

 of their holes in the trees some hours 

 after sunset, and return long before 

 daybreak. They are only visible on 

 bright moonlight nights. The na- 

 tives say that they do not come out 

 of their holes at all in stormy weather, 

 or on very dark nights ; they live on 

 berries and fruits, being especially 

 fond of the palm-oil nut, which they 

 take to their nests to peel and eat. 

 They pass from tree to tree with 

 great rapidity, usually choosing to 

 jump from a higher branch to a 

 lower one, and then climbing up again to make a fresh start. . . . They litter about twice 

 in a year, once in September. The young remain in the nest for about nine weeks, during 

 which they are fed by the old ones on such food as shoots and kernels. They do not attempt to 

 jump or ' fly ' till the end of that period, extending the length of their jumps with their growth." 



The ETHIOPIAN SPINY SQUIRRELS have coarse spiny fur; the little INDIAN PALM-SQUIRREL 

 is marked with longitudinal dark and light stripes on the back ; others have light bands on 

 their flanks. 



THE GROUND-SQUIRRELS. 



Many tree-living squirrels pass a good deal of their time on the ground; but there are 

 others which burrow like mice, and, though they climb admirably, prefer to make their nest, and 

 the regular squirrel's store of nuts, in the earth, and not in the branches. The best known is the 

 little CHIPMUNK of the United States, a favourite pet of many American children. There are 

 many kinds of chipmunks, all of which have pouches in their cheeks for carrying food. The 

 commonest is the STRIPED CHIPMUNK. It is from 8 to 10 inches long, with white stripes t 

 bordered with dark brown on each side. The chipmunks' hoards of grain and nuts are so large 

 that the Indians used to rob them in times of scarcity. There is also a ground-squirrel in 

 Northern Europe and Northern Asia with much the same habits as the chipmunk. 



The burrows of the chipmunks are deep and extensive, and into them these rodents convey 

 such quantities of grain and maize as to inflict considerable loss on the farmer. The SIBERIAN 

 GROUND-SQUIRREL has been known to conceal 8 Ibs. weight of corn in its hole. This has a 

 sleeping-chamber at the end, filled with moss and leaves, on which the family sleep. From this 

 side passages are dug, all leading to chambers stocked with food, often far in excess of the wants 

 of these provident little creatures. The surplus stores are said to be eaten in the spring by wild 

 boars and bears. 



THE PRAIRIE-DOGS AND MARMOTS. 



Between squirrels which live in holes in the ground and the marmots and their relations no 

 great gap is found. These creatures drop the climbing habit and increase that of burrowing. In 

 disposition most of them are still very squirrel-like, though they gain something in solemnity of 

 demeanour by never going far from their holes. A prairie-dog or marmot is like a squirrel 



