70 C-HIPPING SQUIRREL. 



continued with one or two windings, rising a little nearer the surface, un- 

 til 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 Chip- 

 ping Squirrels. Another was subsequently dug from one of the small la- 

 teral 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 conjectiu-ed 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 we afterwards dug out, we obtained about a quart of the beaked 

 hasel nuts, (Corylus rostrata,) nearly a peck of acorns, some grains of In- 

 dian corn, about two quarts of buckwheat, and a very small quantity of 

 grass seeds. The late Dr. John Wright, of Troy, in an interesting com- 

 munication on the habits of several of our quadrupeds, informs us, in re- 

 ference to this species, that " It is a most provident little creature, con- 

 tinuing to add to its winter store, if food is abundant, until driven in by 

 the severity of the frost. Indeed, it seems not to know when it has 

 enough, if we may judge by the surplus left in the spring, being some- 

 times a peck of corn or nuts for a single Squirrel. Some years ago I 

 watched one of these animals whilst laying up its winter store. As there 

 were no nuts to be found near, I furnished a supply. After scattering 

 some hickory nuts on the ground near the burrow, the work of carrying 

 in was immediately commenced. It soon became aw^are that I was a 

 friend, and approached almost to my feet for my gifts. It would take a 

 nut from its paws, and dextrously bite off the sharp point from each end, 

 and then pass it to its cheek-pouch, using its paws to shove it in, then one 

 would be placed on the opposite side, then again one along with the first, 

 and finally, having taken one between its front teeth, it would go into 

 the burrow. After remaining there for five or ten minutes it would re- 

 appear for another load. This was repeated in my presence a great 

 number of times, the animal always carrying four nuts at a time, and 

 always biting off the asperities." 



We perceive from hence, that the Chipping Squirrels retire to winter 

 quarters, in small families, in the early part of November, sooner or later, 

 according to the coldness or mildness of the season, after providing a 

 store of food in their subterranean w^inter residence. When the snows 

 are melted from the earth in early spring, they leave the retreat to which 

 they had resorted during the first severe frosts in autumn. We have 

 seen them sunning themselves on a stump during vvrarm days about the 

 last of February, when the snows were still on the earth here and there 



