JUNE 119 



come quite close, but any quick movement 

 in his direction sent him scurrying away. 



The entrance to his home lay between two 

 big stones used to prop the worm fence, and 

 beneath the lower end of the slanting rail 

 was a fine chamber. A later visit to his 

 quarters proved that in the fall he found 

 material easier to gather. He had hoarded 

 up nearly a half-bushel of chestnuts. 



The only point in which our little friend 

 falls short of his squirrel cousins in beauty 

 is in the matter of tail. Squirrels have de- 

 veloped great, broad brushes that serve for 

 rudders in their splendid leaps from tree 

 to tree. The "chippie" has a far inferior 

 tail, but to make up for it he has a black 

 stripe along his back, and a dark stripe 

 with a white central line along each side. 

 The result is, at least to me, more pleasing 

 than that possessed by any true squirrel. 



I fear, however, his mania for gathering 

 and storing food has made him selfish. At 

 least he rarely, if ever, shares his home and 

 his stores even with his mate. He is peace- 

 able and cheerful when not disturbed, but so 



