39 



winter in a state of semi-hibernation. They take nourish- 

 ment and do not become torpid like the Woodchucks, but 

 they never come out except in long-continued mild weather. 

 I have excavated a number of Chipmunk burrows and find 

 they are all made on the same general plan. The nest, com- 

 posed of broken dry leaves, is placed in the central apart- 

 ment or living room which may be eighteen inches long by 

 twelve in diameter. Opening into this are several other 

 chambers or pockets which are used as store-rooms for food 

 and one of them is generally used for shucks or shells and 

 excrement. The original entrance to the burrow, rendered 

 conspicuous by more or less loose dirt about it, is generally 

 closed when the burrow is completed and the permanent 

 entrance, situated at some distance from the first opening, is 

 a clean round hole. A burrow which I dug out on the 10th 

 of May, contained five young ones more than one-half grown. 

 They sat up and ate chestnuts greedily, although their eyes 

 were not yet open. The pockets of this burrow contained 

 about a peck of chestnuts, cherry-pits, and dog-wood berries. 

 The berries were fresh and sweet, but the chestnuts showed 

 signs of sprouting. 



Arctomys monax {Linnceus). Woobchuck. 



I find no early historical records for this rodent, the largest 

 now inhabiting Westchester Comity ; but this is not surpris- 

 ing as the Woodchuck has probably always been regarded as 

 vermin and of no practical economic value. In the extreme 

 lower part of the County, now quite thickly settled, the 

 animal is becoming rare. 



The Woodchuck makes his home chiefly in the neighbor- 

 hood of open meadows, where he constructs a burrow. The 

 mounds of earth at the entrance to a " Woodchuck hole " are 

 familiar objects to almost everybody. Being rather shy and 

 having a wholesome fear of the house dog, the Woodchuck 

 seldom ventures far from his burrow, which he immediately 



