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Oiir Squirrels. 



sprouted seed, and, digging with wonderful sagacity into each hill, finds the 

 grains, and, cutting out and eating the germs, leaves the remainder on the 

 earth, to become food for crows or other birds. 



Later, when the strawberries and other small fruits are ripened, it takes 

 no small share of these delicacies ; and, when the grains are fit for harvest- 

 ing, the amount this little thief carries off is sometimes astonishing. In 

 addition to these articles of diet, the chipmonk, as it is often called, secures 

 great quantities of nuts ; and lazy people often watch the little gatherer, 



and follow it to its home, where, digging into it with shovel and pick, 

 the stores that had been laid up for future needs are discovered. 



In the winter, unlike the other species, this squirrel partially hibernates ; 

 sleeping most of the time in its burrow until warm weather comes. It 

 would be unbearably abundant in cultivated districts, for it is very prolific, 

 did it not have enemies in all the birds and beasts of prey and the various 

 snakes. Its pretty form, cheerful, active habits, and confiding dispo- 

 sition, insure its protection, or rather secure for it a sort of tolerance, in 



