324 THE GROUND SQUIRREL. 



in the ground : hence it is not so frequently obtained as the 

 arboreal squirrels. Yet few persons have travelled through the 

 forests it haunts without having seen this beautiful creature, 

 and heard it utter its call note, chip, chip. Nuts, acorns, grain, 

 maize, &c., constitute its food j and when carrying several nuts 

 or other provender in its cheek-pouches, it has a very singular 

 appearance. Its subterranean dwelling is formed with much 

 art, and has many long galleries, branching off on each side, 

 and terminating in a large cell, which serves as a store-room to 

 contain provision for winter use. 



Sometimes it climbs trees j but this feat, Dr. Bachman says, 

 it performs slowly and with an apparent reluctance. 



In Canada, the ground squirrel commonly breeds in the 

 cellars and crevices under some of the wood-houses. Mr. E. 

 H. Greenhow says, that a young one having been captured in 

 a room soon became very tame, and played about, regardless 

 of the persons to whom it was accustomed 5 but was always 

 timid before strangers, skulking into a corner of its cage, and 

 burying itself in some dry grass placed there for its bed. It 

 had a very shrill whistling cry, which it repeated at intervals, 

 as it jumped against the wires in front of its cage. It was 

 exceedingly nimble, and could get through very small crevices, 

 frequently escaping by pressing asunder the wires, and on these 

 occasions was very difficult to recapture j but if allowed to run 

 about the room for some time, would attempt to re-enter its 

 cage of its own accord. It was fed principally upon shelled 

 almonds and raisins, but was fond of apples and other pulpy 

 fruits j it also ate grain, which forms a large portion of its food 

 in the wild state. 



Mr. Henry Doubleday, when writing, in June 1837, from 

 Trenton Falls, North America, says, " There are many ground 

 squirrels in the woods. There is one so tame as to come into 

 the house. He came to me a few days ago as I was sitting in 

 the porch, and ran over my boots, examining them very atten- 

 tively j then he disappeared through a grating into the dairy, 

 where he goes to drink the milk ; then he ran up the piazza 



