244 FIRST LESSONS IN ZOOLOGY. 



bough. In the winter its collects the cones of spruce and 

 pine, and carries them to the entrance of its burrow, where 

 it picks out the seeds beneath the snow. It also makes 

 hoards of seeds, etc., on the approach of winter. 



The gray squirrel (Sciurus Carolineitsis) makes a rude 

 nest of leaves in trees, where its young may be found in 

 April and May. It feeds on nuts and acorns, and is ac- 

 tive during the winter. 



The woodchuck {Arctomys monax) is a mischievous 

 creature, destructive to gardens and field crops, especially 

 red clover. It is rather social, making burrows in the 

 sides of hills which extend to a great distance, and end in 

 various chambers, according to the number of inhabitants. 

 The chambers are lined with dry grass or leaves, and here 



Fig. 242— Jumping-mouse {Zapus Hudsonius). 



they pass the winter in a torpid state, previously closing the 

 entrance. There are six young to a litter. 



The common pocket-gopher ( Geomys bursarius) burrows 

 in sandy soil and feeds on acorns, nuts, roots, and grass, 

 which it carries to its burrows in its enormous hanging 

 cheek-pouches, which, when full, have an oblong form and 

 nearly touch the ground. 



The jumping-mouse (Pig. 243) has remarkably long 

 hind legs and short fore legs. This creature, like the bear 

 and bats, hibernates in the winter months; it enters the 

 ground before the frosts set in, and makes a burrow from 

 five to seven feet in depth, usually in sandy soU. At the 

 end of this burrow it constructs a nest of dried grass, in 

 which it lies curled up in an unconscious state. Peculiar 

 to the Western plains is the prairie-dog {Cynomys ludovi- 



