THE SQUIRRELS— GROUND. 



313 



together, it is entirely impossible to fathom the 

 intention of its evolutions. The suddenness of the 

 changes from one movement to another is what sur- 

 prises one most The Assapan can suddenly end 

 the wildest chase at any time it sees fit to do so, and 

 therefore the eye of the observer, in trying to follow 





ASSAPANS, OR AMERICAN FLYING SQUIRRELS. One of the daintiest little animals found in the 



United States is the Assapan, or Flying Squirrel, so called because it has a membrane which it can spread to aid 

 it in taking long leaps from a tree-top through the air. It is one of the smallest of the Squirrel family but one of 

 the prettiest. A typical group of these animals is shown in the picture. It is found all over the United States and 

 Central America. {Pteromys volttcella.) 



it, still roams about, while the creature sits on some 

 twig, of a pencil's thickness, as quiet as if it had 

 never moved. 



Assapansare The Assapans are very peaceful 

 Pugnacious and among their own kind, and appar- 

 Pluchy. ently inoffensive and good-natured, 



but they never hesitate to 

 attack any small animal of 

 another species, especially 

 small birds, and kill them 

 without mercy, Face to 

 face with a victim, they 

 appear as bloodthirsty as 

 beasts of prey, and their 

 indescribable agility and 

 ferocious disposition prob- 

 ably render them quite for- 

 midable foes to small ani- 

 mals. They show no fear 

 of mammals in size equal- 

 ing themselves: other Ro- 

 dents, for instance. An in- 

 truder in their domain is 

 first subjected to an exami- 

 nation by use of their pow- 

 ers of scent; if it be found 

 objectionable it is at- 

 tacked, and is scratched, 

 bitten and otherwise an- 

 noyed, and if it is not very 

 plucky it is sure to be 

 driven away. So we can 

 not deny that the Assapans 



are decidedly courageous, besides being bloodthirsty. 

 The little animals are so prepossessing in other re- 

 spects, however, that one forgets their bad qualities 

 in thinking of the good ones and accordingly de- 

 clares them to be the most attractive of all Rodents. 



THE GROUND SQUIRRELS. 

 A genus of this family which is worthy of men- 

 tion is that of the Ground Squirrels ( Tamias). Their 

 possession of cheek-pouches reaching to the back 

 of the head, and their more or less subterraneous 

 habits, characterize them as intermediate links be- 

 tween the true Squirrels 

 and the Spermophiles, al- 

 though they agree with the 

 former more than with the 

 latter. The tail of the 

 Ground Squirrels is scant- 

 ily grown with hair and 

 slightly shorter than the 

 body; the fur is short and 

 not very soft and is usually 

 diversified with a few 

 sharply defined longitudi- 

 nal stripes on the back. 

 There are few varieties, 

 and they inhabit eastern 

 Europe, Siberia and North 

 America. 



The Burunduk or Striped 

 Siberian Ground Squirrel 

 (Tamias striates), is consid- 

 erably smaller than the 

 Common Squirrel, but of 

 much clumsier build. The 

 coloring of the short, rough 

 close fur is yellowish, 

 mixed with long, white- 

 tipped hairs on the head, 

 neck and flanks; five black stripes run along the 

 back at unequal intervals, the middle band marking 

 the spine; the next two run from the shoulders to 

 the hind legs, and have a band of pale yellow 

 between them. The whole of the under surface is 

 grayish white. 



THE CHIPMUNK. A familiar, lively American animal, which, in some one of its several local varieties. 



is found all over the United States and the greater part of Canada. Seeds, nuts and grain are its food, and it 

 inhabits the wooded regions and also causes havoc on farms. The picture shows a group of Chipmunks seeking for 

 acorns, and illustrates with fidelity their appearance and the markings of their fur. (Tamias lysteri.) 



A large part of northern Asia and a small portion 

 of eastern Europe are the native range of the Old 

 World Ground Squirrel. It lives in forests of firs 

 and pines as well as of birches, but is most fre- 

 quently found in woods where the stone-pine tree 



