CHAPTER IX 
GROUND-SQUIRRELS AND PRAIRIE- 
DOGS 
We come now to the ground-squirrels, which 
are of small size, have flat and comparatively 
short tails, and keep near the earth, living be- 
neath it and deriving their food from weeds 
and low bushes for the most part. There are 
scores of species which fall into two groups,— 
the striped chipmunks of the eastern and north- 
ern woods, and the unstriped spermophiles of 
the western plains. 
The chipmunks. Our familiar chipmunk is 
the only eastern representative of this large 
group, and is seen everywhere. In size and 
manners he is much like the saucy red squirrel, 
but the five black stripes alternating with two 
whitish ones on his chestnut coat (fading 
through yellowish on the sides into a white 
vest), distinguish him in an instant. His race 
extends clear across the continent and to 
Alaska. wherever timber grows, but the western 
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