HABITS OF THE HACKEE. 



and a half in length. It is, however, slightly variable in dimensions as well as in 

 color. 



The Hackee is one of the liveliest and briskest of quadrupeds, and by reason of its 

 quick and rapid movements, has not inaptly been compared to the wren. It is chiefly 

 seen among brushwood and small timber ; and as it whisks about the branches, or 

 shoots through their interstices with its peculiar, quick, jerking movements, and its 

 odd, quaint, little clucking cry, like the chip-chipping of newly-hatched chickens, the an- 

 alogy between itself and the bird is very apparent. As it is found in such plenty, and is a 

 bold little creature, it is much persecuted by small boys, who, although they are not 

 big or wise enough to be entrusted with guns, wherewith to work the destruction of larger 

 game, arm themselves with long sticks, and by dexterous management knock down 

 many a Hackee as it tries to escape from its pursuers by running along the rail fences. 

 Among boys the popular name of the Hackee is the " Chipmuck." 



It is a burrowing animal, making its little tunnels in various retired spots, but 

 generally preferring an old tree, or the earth which is sheltered by a wall, a fence, or a 

 bank. The burrows are rather complicated, and as they run to some length, the task 

 of digging the animal out of its retreat is no easy one. In the work of Messrs. Audubon 

 and Bachman is given the following spirited narrative of an attack upon the home of 

 some unfortunate Hackees. " This species is to a certain extent gregarious in its 

 habits. We had in autumn marked one of its burrows which we conceived well 

 adapted to our purpose, which was to dig it out. It was in the woods, in a sandy piece of 

 ground, and the earth was strewed with leaves to the depth of eight inches, which we 

 believed would prevent the frost from penetrating to any considerable depth. We had 

 the place opened in January, when the ground was covered with snow about five inches 

 deep. The entrance of the burrow had been closed from within. We followed the 

 course of the small winding gallery with considerable difficulty. The hole descended at 

 first almost perpendicularly for about three feet. It then continued, with one or two 

 windings, rising a little nearer the surface until it had advanced about eight feet, when 

 we came to a large nest, made of oak leaves and dried grasses. Here lay snugly 

 covered three Chipping Squirrels. 



" Another was subsequently dug from one of the small lateral galleries, to which it 

 had evidently retreated to avoid us. They were not dormant, and seemed ready to 

 bite when taken in the hand ; but they were not very active, and appeared somewhat 

 sluggish and benumbed, which we conjectured was owing to their being exposed to 

 sudden cold from our having opened their burrow. There was about a gill of wheat 

 and buckwheat in the nest ; but in the galleries, which we afterwards dug out, we ob- 

 tained about a quart of the beaked hazel nuts (Cbrylus Rostrdta), nearly a peck of 

 acorns, some grains of Indian corn, about two quarts of buckwheat, and a very small 

 quantity of grass seeds." 



Whenever menaced by one of the numerous foes by which so defenceless and con- 

 spicuous an animal is sure to be surrounded, the Hackee makes at once for its burrow, 

 and is there secured from the attacks of nearly every enemy. One foe, however, cares 

 nothing for the burrow, but follows the poor Hackee through its windings, and never 

 fails to attain its sanguinary object. This remorseless foe is the stoat, or ermine, one 

 of which animals has been detected in entering a Hackee's burrow, where it remained 

 for a few minutes,, and then returned, licking its lips, and appearing highly satisfied 

 with its proceedings. When the burrow was examined in order to ascertain the amount 

 of slaughter which the stoat had performed, one female Hackee and five young were 

 found lying dead in their home, the stoat having contented itself with sucking their 

 blood without deigning to eat their flesh. 



From the principal burrow the Hackee drives several supplementary tunnels, in which 

 it lays up its stock of provisions. The general nature of this store, and the amount of 

 treasure which is garnered within the burrows, may be gathered from the account which 

 has just been quoted. When the Hackee carries off the beaked nuts into its cave, it 

 goes through its work in a very business-like manner. Fearing lest the sharp " beak " of 

 the nut may hurt its cheeks when it puts the fruit into its pouch, it bites off the sharp 

 point, and then deliberately pushes it into one of the pouches with the assistance of its 



