392 WILD ANIMALS 
THE Rock SQUIRRELS OR CHIPMUNKS 
There are said to be eighteen species of chipmunks in dif- 
ferent parts of the United States, but the Dakotas and Mon- 
tana were almost overlooked in the distribution of these pert 
little creatures, there being only a few wooded areas in which 
small numbers are found. They live on the ground and keep 
within easy running distance of rock piles, fence corners, or 
their burrows under the roots of trees. They like to nest in 
hollow trees that afford an entrance at the foot of the trunk. 
One species found in our region, the Eastern Chipmunk, is 
reddish brown in color with a black stripe down the entire 
length of the back and with a conspicuous yellow-brown 
stripe between two black ones at the side. It is about the 
size of the thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (“‘ striped gopher ”’), 
but it has a much longer tail. It burrows in the ground below 
the frost line, and in autumn it stores away great quantities 
of seeds and nuts, which it carries in its cheek pouches. It 
does not become dormant in the winter like the ground 
squirrels, but is like the tree squirrels in this respect, and on 
days that are favorable it will come forth and enjoy the sun- 
shine and fresh air. 
Chipmunks are delightful little fellows and when they learn 
that they are safe from harm they become very tame and 
confiding. 
THE GROUND SQUIRRELS OR SPERMOPHILES 
These are the “‘ gophers ” that are the farmer’s pests in the 
prairie regions west of the Mississippi River. Naturalists do 
not approve of our popular name for these animals because 
they say that should be applied only to the Pocket Gophers. 
Spermophile is the name they use. That word means“ seed- 
