The Squirrel Tribe. I/ 



between the teeth. In order to prevent the nut from 

 hurting its mouth, the hackee invariably bites off the 

 sharp beik of the fruit before consigning it to the 

 pouches. 



When thus loaded, the animal presents a very 

 curious appearance, bearing a ludicrous resemblance 

 to a human being suffering from a very bad attack of 

 mumps. 



The well-supplied condition of the hackee's lardei 

 is widely known, and in times of scarcity the natives 

 repair to the burrows, and, digging out the contents, 

 find the materials for a hearty meal. 



When pursued by one of its numerous enemies, the 

 chipping squirrel always takes refuge in its burrow, 

 trusting in the inability of its pursuer to follow it 

 down the complicated windings of its narrow tunnel. 

 There is one foe, however, to whom this is no 

 obstacle, and which follows the hackee to the very 

 end of the burrow, there making a meal of the 

 unfortunate owner. This enemy is found in the 

 stoat, which sometimes kills the whole of the occupants 

 of a burrow merely for the gratification of sucking 

 their blood. 



All three of the popular names are applied to this 

 animal on account of the curious cry, which somewhat 

 resembles the clucking of newly-hatched chickens. 

 The scientific title, Tamtas, is a Greek word, signify- 

 ing a storekeeper, the application of which is at once 

 apparent. 



