246 WASTE-LAND WANDERINGS. 



in the past summer, I have since then taken every pre- 

 caution to let no new burrows near home escape detec- 

 tion and very careful examination ; and as a result, I 

 have concluded that there is in the minds of most peo- 

 ple a misconception concerning these underground re- 

 treats, whether made by mammals or insects. 



When a burrowing mammal is cut off from its re- 

 treat, and finding escape by running impracticable, in- 

 stead of turning about and facing a pursuing foe, it will, 

 as a desperate resort, start to burrowing. In the case of 

 skunks, chipmunks, and star-nosed moles, it needs but 

 an incredibly short time for the animal to conceal itself ; 

 but of course, in all such cases, the displaced earth is 

 thrown upon the surface, and is a certain indication of 

 the creature's whereabouts. Nevertheless, escape by 

 such uncertain means is often effected, in consequence 

 of the animal's being able to round a bowlder or large 

 root, and so place it between the pursuer and pursued. 

 In every such case the amount of dirt displaced is not 

 all brought to the surface. Does the animal then worm 

 its way through the soil, pressing it to either side of the 

 tunnel as it progresses? There is certainly much evi- 

 dence that this is true ; but, of course, the practicability 

 of such tunnelling by pressure depends upon the char- 

 acter of the earth and its relative density. 



This has been pronounced impossible ; and the asser- 

 tion made that earth of so loose a texture that a mam- 

 mal could worm through it, as loose sand, would imme- 

 diately cave behind the animal as it progressed. 



The striped ground-squirrel or chipmunk affords, in 

 its burrow, a good opportunity to examine into this mat- 



