Chipmunk 



to a safe distance where it may be left in a heap or scattered 

 about over the grass; it may be that the earth hidden beneath 

 stumps and similar places is brought there in this manner oftener 

 than is suspected. 



In going to and from his burrow the chipmunk takes care- 

 ful leaps over the grass and appears strictly to avoid making 

 any path which might serve as a guide to his enemies. 



Among themselves chipmunks are most talkative little peo- 

 ple, often a company of half a dozen or more may be heard 

 keeping up a most animated conversation on quiet summer 

 afternoons ; each seated on his own particular rock or stump 

 separated by intervals of a few rods they exchange chirrup for 

 chirrup with varying inflections for hours together. At times 

 they get up a regular chorus or chant with a kind of rhythmical 

 movement running through it that is very pleasing. This chirrup 

 or chirping note is also used as a cry of warning by simply 

 changing the expression a trifle. 



If a chipmunk is interrupted in his labours or his sunbath, 

 or whatever he may happen to be doing, by the approach of 

 a fox or other enemy, he not only looks out for his own safety 

 but remembers the rest of his family as well. 



If possible he gets within easy reach of his hole and from 

 that position of safety he sends forth a steady series of alarm 

 notes as long as the enemy is in sight. 



The alarm is taken up by the others as fast as they 

 catch sight of the fox, so that the most wily marauder finds 

 his approach heralded in spite of all his caution. 



When one is directly attacked and compelled to dart into 

 his hole or seek safety among the rocks, a shrill, rippling, 

 sibilant cry informs his fellows still more exactly of the position 

 of the enemy. One afternoon last September I heard them sig- 

 nalling danger from one to another at the edge of the woods, and 

 approached cautiously, rather expecting to find a fox hunting 

 them, for the jays by their screaming gave me reason to believe 

 that there was one near-by. 



Just as I reached the group of hardwood trees where the 

 chipmunks were, a cooper's hawk swooped down from among the 

 leaves overhead and gliding along beside the stone wall struck at 

 first one and then another of the little striped backs, but they 

 all dodged him successfully each sending along the alarm to the 



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