24G WASTE-LAND WANDERINGS. 



in the past summer, I have since then taken every pre- 

 caution to let no new burrows near home escape detec- 

 tion and very careful examination ; and as a result, I 

 have concluded that there is in the minds of most peo- 

 ple a misconception concerning these underground re- 

 treats, whether made by mammals or insects. 



^7hen a burrowin^^ mammal is cut oS from its re- 

 treat, and finding escape by running impracticable, in- 

 stead of turning about and facing a pursuing foe, it will, 

 as a desperate resort, start to burrowing. In the case of 

 skunks, chipmunks, and star-nosed moles, it needs but 

 an incredibly short time for the animal to conceal itself ; 

 but of course, in all such cases, the displaced earth is 

 thrown upon the surface, and is a certain indication of 

 the creature's whereabouts. Nevertheless, escape by 

 such uncertain means is often effected, in consequence 

 of the animal's being able to round a bowlder or large 

 root, and so place it between the pursuer and pursued. 

 In every such case the amount of dirt displaced is not 

 all brous^ht to the surface. Does the animal then worm 

 its way through the soil, pressing it to either side of the 

 tunnel as it progresses? There is certainly much evi- 

 dence that this is true ; but, of course, the practicability 

 of such tunnelling by pressure depends upon the char- 

 acter of the earth and its relative density. 



This has been pronounced impossible ; and the asser- 

 tion made that earth of so loose a texture that a mam- 

 mal could worm through it, as loose sand, would imme- 

 diately cave behind the animal as it progressed. 



The stri^^ed ground-squirrel or chipmunk affords, in 

 its burrow, a good opportunity to examine into this mat- 



