THE ANTELOPE CHIPMUNK 101 



ful of food, yet in a day they could carry away 

 several quarts of grain. 



The bill-of-fare varies a good deal with the 

 change of seasons. During the early spring 

 when succulent food is plentiful they eat many 

 green plants. At other times they live on seeds 

 such as those of the tree yuccas, cactuses, scrub 

 junipers, and many kinds of grasses. During a 

 part of the year they add to their dry diet the 

 fruits of the cactuses. Like a great many of the 

 smaller rodents they will eat flesh if they can 

 get it. 



In their search for food they become very 

 brave even in the presence of people, and if 

 one is quiet they will even enter the house and 

 really become quite tame. They are always on 

 the alert, however, and ready to run when the 

 time comes for them to seek safety in retreat. 

 Like the mice and wood rats they do not mind 

 noise much, but the sight of any motion, how- 

 ever slight, is a signal of danger that sends 

 them off to their holes in a hurry. 



The ammos are quite dexterous in their 

 use of the forepaws and they generally use 

 them as hands to hold food up to their mouths. 



