THE STRIPED SQUIRREL. 403 



Streaks, one of which runs along the back, and two 

 on each side. — These animals eat all kinds of corn ; 

 and, like the Common Squirrel, collect provisions in 

 autumn for the winter, and store them in their holes. 

 They have two cheek pouches ; which they fill with 

 corn in the fields, and in this manner convey it 

 home. 



They are natives of America ; and dig Iioles in 

 the ground, which serve for their habitations, and 

 to which they fly for shelter whenever danger 

 is near. Their holes are deep; and comm.only divi- 

 ded into many branches, from one of which they 

 have an opening to the surface of the ground. The 

 advantage they derive from this is, tliat when they 

 ramble abroad for food, and are prevented from en- 

 tering the hole at which they went out, tliey may 

 not expose themselves to their pursuers, but imme- 

 diately retreat into the other. But in autumn, when 

 the leaves are falling from the trees, it is very di- 

 verting to observe their consternation when pursued : 

 — for their holes being covered with leaves, they 

 have then some difficulty in finding them : t];ey 

 run backward and forward, as though they had lost 

 their way ; and seem to know v*'here their subter- 

 raneous haunts lie, but cannot discover the entrances. 

 If they are pursued, and any sudden or loud noise 

 is made, they are constrained to take refuge in the 

 trees ; but this they never do unless in cases of ne- 

 cessity *. 



Their subterraneous dwellings are formed with 



