THE GROUND SQUIRREL, OR HACKEE. 



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When undisturbed in its native domains, it appears to be an active and lively ani- 

 mal, and is remarkable for a curious habit of suddenly ceasing its play and running to 

 the water side to refresh itself before it recommences its sport. In drinking it does not 

 lap after the manner of dogs and cats, but bends over the water, and thrusting its nose 

 fairly beneath the surface, drinks a steady draught. After it has satisfied its thirst, it 

 sits on its hind legs, and with its fore-feet carefully washes its face, occasionally dip- 

 ping its paws into the water, as if to perform its ablutions in the most effectual manner. 



BLACK SQUIRREL.-Sc/urus niger. 



The skin of the Black Squirrel is rather valuable, as it not only possesses the uni- 

 form jetty hue which is so universally admired in ornamental furs, but is also pecu- 

 liarly smooth and glossy. As is generally the case with dark-coated animals, the hairs 

 are lighter towards the base, and partake of a slaty-blue tint. 



ALL the preceding examples of the Squirrel tribe are remarkable for their extreme 

 agility in climbing trees, traversing the branches, and making extraordinary leaps from 

 one bough to another or from some elevated spot to the earth. The Ground Squirrels, 

 however, are intended to abide on the earth, and are seldom known to ascend trees of 

 any great height. As they possess cheek-pouches, they are placed in a separate genus, 

 under the name of Tamais, which is a Greek word, signifying a storekeeper, and are 

 separate from the true Squirrels, which are not furnished with those appendages. 



The HACKEE, or CHIPPING SQUIRREL, as it is sometimes termed, is one of the most 

 familiar of North American quadrupeds, and is found in great numbers in almost every 

 locality. It is a truly beautiful little creature, and deserving of notice both on account 

 of the dainty elegance of its form, and the pleasing tints with which its coat is decked. 

 The general color of the Hackee is a brownish-gray on the back, warming into orange- 

 brown on the forehead and the hinder quarters. Upon the back and sides are drawn 

 five longitudinal black stripes and two streaks of yellowish-white, so that it is a most 

 conspicuous little creature, and by those peculiar stripes may easily be distinguished 

 from any other animal. The abdomen and throat are white. It is slightly variable in 

 color according to the locality in which it exists, and has been known to be so capri- 

 cious of hue as to furnish specimens of pure white and jet black. As a fur it is ex- 

 tremely elegant, and if it were not quite so common would long since have taken 

 nearly as high a rank as the sable or ermine. 



The length of the Hackee is about eleven inches, the tail being about four inches 



