514 



THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 



abounds. Under the roots of these trees it exca- 

 vates a rather simple burrow which forks, one pass- 

 age leading to the nest and the other to the store 

 rooms, situated laterally, a long, tortuous passage 

 forming the exit. The food of the animal consists 

 of plant seeds and berries, and preferably cereals 

 •and nuts, of which it may carry from ten to sixteen 

 pounds home during a single winter, lising it^ cheek- 

 pouches to carry these supplies, and storing them in 

 its larder. 



The Familiar The American counterpart of the 

 Chipmunii Burunduk is the Chipmunk, Hackee, 

 Described. or Chipping Squirrel {Tamias lysteri). 

 It is distributed all over the United States. It is of 

 about the same dimensions as the Buruiftiuk. The 

 face is of a reddish brown tint, with darker spots on 

 the forehead and cheeks; the nape of the neck is 

 ashen gray, the hind quarters reddish brown, the 

 under surface whitish; there is a dark brown stripe 

 on the back, a black stripe over the eye, with white 

 above and below it, and there is a wide white side- 

 streak edged with blackish brown; the upper surface 



TH£ XERUS. In Africa there are Squirrels which burrow in the ground, but whi^ch differ from the other 



Squirrels in the texture of the fur, which is coarse and bristly, almost equal in roughness to the spines of a Hedge- 

 hog. They form a distinct group of which the Abyssinian -animal, shown in the picture, is typical. It is about 

 twenty inches long, has short ears placed low on the head, and a long tail covereij with coarse hair. (Xerus 

 rutilus.) 



of the tail is dark brown, the base being grayish yel- 

 low, the tip whitish and the lower surface a ruddy hue. 



Manu Different Naturalists, as well as ordinary observers, 



„ . =. ■" ^ +. „ recognize numerous varieties among the 



varieties of tne chipm,unks of the United States, founded 

 LnipmunH. principally on the markings of the fur, for in 

 their habits they are all very similar. Thus there are described 

 by Elliott Coues four varieties found in this country. The first 

 is the Four-Striped Chipmunk ( Tamias quadrivittatus) which 

 inhabits the central region, north and south, comprising the 

 Mississippi Valley in the larger sense. It is the smallest spe- 

 cies, being not longer than five inches, and its name is derived 

 from four white stripes enclosed within five dark or black ones 

 along the back of the animal. Another is the Eastern Chip- 

 munk ( Tamias striatus) larger, brighter in color and having on 

 its back five black stripes and also having a white streak on 

 each side of the body. The Mountain Chipmunk {Tamias 

 lateralis) inhabiting the Rocky Mountains, and the Southwest- 

 em Chipmunk ( Tamias harrisi) are other local varieties. 



Chipmunks and Late in summer the Chipmunk may 

 Their Hiber- be seen running about, its cheek 

 nation. pouches filled and its eyes beam- 



ing with the satisfaction which its riches afford it. 

 According to the different months in which they 

 mature, it gathers its varied stores, for the most part 

 consisting of buckwheat, hazel nuts, maple seeds 

 and corn. It becomes torpid during the winter, but 

 its hibernation is an interrupted one, and it seems 



to stand in need of food during the whole winter. 

 Audubon dug up a burrow in January, and at the 

 depth of about four feet he found a large nest of 

 leaves and grass in which three Chipmunks were 

 ensconced; others seemed to have retreated to the 

 lateral passages at the approach of the diggers. 

 The animals were overcome with sleep and not very 

 active, but they were by no means as torpid as true 

 hibernating animals are, and they snapped viciously 

 at the naturalist, who tried to handle them. The 

 Chipmunk does not become torpid before Novem- 

 ber, nor does the Burunduk in central Siberia, where 

 the cold begins early, begin its hibernation before 

 the middle of October. Neither of these animals 

 leaves its subterranean residences during the win- 

 ter, but both keep a passage open, and when the 

 snow thaws, the Burunduk, at least, rpay be seen 

 very busily occupied in cleaning the entrance of its 

 burrow and protecting it from the water. When the 

 snow melts, both species begin their activity above 

 ground. The young are born in May, and a second 

 litter usually in August. The males engage in fierce 



combats during the breed- 

 ing season, and it is said 

 that more pugnacious little 

 creatures than these small, 

 active animals are hard to 

 find. They display an 

 amazing nimbleness and 

 dart between and under 

 hedges like Wrens. 



IMany Foes of The farmer 

 the Ground regards the 

 Squirrels. Ground 

 Squirrels with by no means 

 friendly eyes. They enter 

 barns, after the fashion of 

 Mice, and if backed by 

 large numbers they cause 

 great devastations. In Si- 

 beria the furs of the Bur- 

 unduk are put to good ac- 

 count and shipped to China 

 where they are principally 

 used for trimming other 

 furs. The Chipmunk is 

 hunted to a greater extent than its Siberian cousin. 

 A whole army of enemies is constantly engaged in 

 its pursuit. Boys utilize it to practice the npble 

 sport of hunting; Weasels pursue it both on and 

 under the ground; Cats deem it a prey equally 

 as good as Rats and Mice, and all larger birds of 

 prey carry it off whenever they have a chance. 

 One of these birds has even gained for itself the 

 name of Squirrel-hawk, because of its attacks on 

 these animals. The Rattlesnake, according to the 

 observations of Geyer, also follows the poor Chip- 

 munk with a great deal of perseverance. Winter 

 often causes sad havoc among the numerous young 

 brood born in summer. Yet they are very plentiful, 

 at least in favorable years, the great fecundity of the 

 female making up for the losses. 

 The Ground Squir- The pretty color, the gracefulness 

 rels as Tamed and liveliness of the Ground Squir- 

 Pets. feis recommend them as pets. But 



they never become quite tame, always remaining 

 timid and addicted to biting. Their predilection for 

 gnawing everything must also be contended with. 

 They practice this accomplishment with an adept- 

 ness equal to that of Rats, and few things in the 

 cage or room can escape defacement or destruction. 



