ANIMAL LIFE IN THE WOODS 167 



17. Mammals in and about the Woods. 



The trees and the underbrush are not the home of many 

 birds only. If we look closely on the green foliage, in the 

 flowers, in the dead trunks and stumps, and under the half- 

 decayed leaves on the ground, we find so many insects and 

 other small animals that it would require a lifetime to study 

 the life history and the habits of all. But let us now turn 

 our attention to some of the larger animals which still 

 inhabit the woods, together with, the birds. Several times, 

 in our rambles, we saw a brisk little animal, which in shape 

 resembled a squirrel, but was smaller than the Red Squirrel. 

 All of you who have seen the little chatterbox know that I 

 refer to the Chipmunk. On sunny days in fall, when the 

 nuts are ripe, and when the leaves begin to change to a 

 warm red or to a bright yellow, I have frequently observed 

 the Red and the Gray Squirrels busily gathering nuts for 

 their winter supply. If you tread softly, and if your ears 

 are keen, you may hear " Brer Rabbit" rustle through the 

 dry leaves, and see his cotton tail disappear in the brush. 

 These animals we shall study now ; and we will begin with 

 the smallest of them, with the sprightly and ever-active 

 chipmunk. 



18. The Chipmunk. Tamias striatus. 



MATERIAL : Picture of the chipmunk ; a clean skull ; nuts, acorns, 

 grain, and other seeds, on which it feeds. Life and habits previously 

 observed outdoors. 



The chipmunk looks like a small squirrel ; and as it is 

 more commonly seen on the ground than on trees, it is also 

 called ground squirrel. Its general color is reddish-brown ; 

 along the back run five black and two whitish stripes. 



Although the chipmunk has no hands, still it can build 



Observations. Note the flowers of Indian corn, small grain, potatoes, 

 and other cultivated plants. 



