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 ieaps 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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