THE CANADA POUCHED R.VT. SH 



The provisions are stored in the lateral galleries, and are of a 

 very mixed nature, so as to afford variety of diet to the animali 

 In one burrow were discovered two quarts of buckwheat, some 

 grass seeds, nearly a peck of acorns, some Indian corn, and a 

 quart of the beaked nuts already mentioned. 



The popular names of Chipping Squirrel and Chipmuck are 

 given to this little animal on account of its cry, which sounds 

 like the chirping of young chickens. It is a quick, lively little 

 creature, ever on the move, and delighting to dart in and out of 

 the dense underwood. 



The Woodchuck (Arctmiys vwncuc) is another well-known 

 burrower of America. On account of its whistling cry, it is 

 called SiFFLEUE by the French ; and its peculiar form has earned 

 for it the somewhat inappropriate title of GBOUifD Hog. 



The burrow of the Woodchuck is rather long, running to a 

 distance of twenty or thirty feet from the entrance, which is 

 almost invariably placed under the shelter of a projecting rock, 

 or on the side of a hill. It descends obliquely for a few feet, 

 and then rises gradually towards the surface of the ground. At 

 the extremity of the burrow is placed the nest, which is a rounded 

 chamber of considerable dimensions. Here the young Wood- 

 chucks are born, and here they remain until they are about five 

 months old, when they separate from each other, and begin an 

 independent existence, each digging a small hole about a yard 

 in depth. Many of these little burrows are made and left imoc- 

 cupied. Digging out Woodchucks is a favourite amusement 

 with boys. 



Our next example is the Canada Pouched Rat {Pseudosioma 

 bursaritts), sometimes called the Gopher, or MuLO. 



This remarkable animal drives burrows of very great extent, 

 and whenever it gains admission into a garden, it works much 

 damage. to the roots of the plants. Every root that crosses the 

 tunnel the Pouched Eat will eat; and not only herbs and 

 flowers, but even fruit trees of many years' growth have been 

 killed by this destructive animal In such cases, the extremity 

 of the burrow is always to be found among the roots of some 

 tree, which act at the same time as a defence and a larder ; for 



