32 HOMES WITHOrT HANDS. 



stripes of black and two of pale yellow drawn along the back; so 

 that it cannot be mistaken for any other animal. Below, and on 

 the throat, it is a pure snowy white. These are the normal hues 

 of the fur ; but it is somewhat variable in point of colour, the 

 grey and yellow being sometimes quite superseded by the black. 



The burrow of the Chipping Squirrel is rather complicated in 

 structure, and is always made under the shelter of a wall, an old 

 tree, or a bank. The hole descends almost perpendicularly for 

 nearly a yard, and then makes several devious windings in a 

 slightly ascending direction. Two or three supplementarj' gal- 

 leries are driven from the principal burrow, and by means of 

 them the animal is able to escape almost any foe. The stoat, 

 however, cannot be deceived by this complicated arrangement of 

 tunnels, but winds its lithe body through all the deviating 

 passages, and kiUs every Chipping Squirrel which it finds. One 

 of these bloodthirsty weasels has been known to enter the burrow 

 of a Chipping Squirrel, and in a short time to leave it, having in 

 the space of a very few minutes killed six victims, a mother and 

 five young, whose lifeless bodies were found in the nursery 

 when the burrow was opened. 



The nest is made of dried leaves of various kinds, and in it the 

 mother and her offspring can rest in security from all ordinary 

 foes. Owing to the complexity of the burrow, no little skill is 

 required to trace its various windings, and much exertion is 

 needed before they can all be laid bare. 



Within this burrow, the Chipping Squirrel lays up a wonder- 

 fully large store of food. It is, in fact, a perfect miser in respect 

 of provisions, gathering and secreting much more than it can 

 possibly eat, and never seeming to be satisfied so long as another 

 acorn or nut can be obtained. The common beaked nut (Corylus 

 rostrata) is a favourite article of food, and lest the sharp beak 

 should hurt its mouth, the Chipping Squirrel takes care to bite 

 off the beak before putting the nut into the ample cheek-pouches 

 with which it is furnished. It is able to carry four nuts at a 

 time, three being held in the mouth and the fourth between the 

 teeth. "When thus laden, it presents a most absurd aspect, its 

 cheeks being so puffed out with its treasure, that it reminds the 

 classical observer of Alcmseon in the treasury of Croesus. Un- 

 classical observers ,may be reminded of a man suffering from a 

 severe attack of mumps. 



