THE GROUND SQUIRREL, OR HACKEE. 495 
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. Wehad 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 hav- 
ing 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 obtained about a quart of the 
beaked hazel nuts (Corylus rostrata), 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 numer- 
ous 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 
CHIPMUCK.—amias lystert. the burrow was examined in order to ascer- 
tain 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 dzives 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 fore-paws. Another and another are 
similarly treated, and taking a fourth nut between its teeth, the Hackee dives into its burrow, 
packs away its treasures methodically, and then returns for another cargo. It is rather curious 
that it always carries four nuts at each journey. As the little creature goes along with its 
cheek-pouches distended to their utmost iimits it has the most ludicrous aspect imaginable, 
its cheeks prodigiously swelled, and laboring most truly under an embarrassment of riches. 
rye 
HT Mise exam 
