I'M VERTEBRATES. 



animals which 0111111) up the trees; so that the species is n( 

 greatly multiplied, although they have commonly three or foi 

 young at a time. 



The Ground or Striped Squirrel is very numerous i 

 the forests of North America and Northern Asia. It burrows i 

 the ground, and makes two entrances to its habitation ; that if or 

 should be stopped up, it may have access by the other. In ai 

 tumn, however, when the ground is covered with leaves, and it 

 warmly pursued, it has often some difficulty in discovering tl 

 entrance to its haunt, and it then displays striking signs of coi 

 sternation. It is only on such occasions that it will take refug 

 in trees. Its hole is formed with great skill, having seven 

 branches from the principal passage, each of which is terminate 

 by a store-house, in which its winter food is deposited : in one 

 contained acorns, in another nuts, in a third maize, and in a fourt 

 chestnuts, which are its favorite food, and of which it sometime 

 collects not less than two hats full. In Siberia, ten or fiftee 

 pounds weight of the kernels of the stone pine have been take 

 out of one of these hoards. 



The Dormouse is very common in all the warmer parts o 

 the continent of Europe, and is sometimes found in Englan( 

 especially in the southern and midland counties, but it does n( 

 exactly resemble the Italian, which is red upon the back. It livf 

 in copses and among brushwood, through which it makes its wa 

 with such rapidity that it is very difficult to capture. During tl 

 winter it lies torpid, but takes care to have a stock of food lai 

 up, on which it feeds during the few interruptions to its slumber 

 A warm day jn winter will usually rouse it, but during the col 

 weather it lies rolled up, with its tail curled round it. While i 

 this torpid state, a sudden exposure to heat kills it, but a gent 

 warmth, such as holding it in the hand, rouses it without injur' 

 It lives principally on nuts, acorns, and grain. It brings up i 

 young in a nest composed of leaves and hay, and seems to be fon 

 of society in its household labors, as ten or twelve nests have bee 

 seen close to each other. 



The Jerboas are celebrated for their powers of leaping 



