ROCK SQUIRRELS, OR CHIPMUNKS 



73 



gested its generic name, Tamias, meaning a stew- 

 ard. It does not become dormant, but on the 

 warm, sunny days of winter, when the rocks are 

 free from snow, it hastens above ground to enjoy 

 the light and warmth. 



The length of an Eastern Chipmunk is 6J + 4^ 

 inches. Its ground color is bright reddish brown 

 above, light underneath, and along each side 

 runs a conspicuous yellow-brown stripe between 

 two black stripes. A black stripe runs from 

 the head backward along the centre of the back, 

 almost to the tail. The home of this animal 

 extends from southern Canada and New York 

 to Georgia and Louisiana, and westward to 

 Iowa. 



There are eighteen full species of Chipmunks, 

 several of which are very much alike, distributed 

 throughout nearly the whole of the United States. 

 The greater number are marked by two or more 

 black lines extending along the side, frequently 

 alternating with lines of a yellowish-gray color. 



It is impossible to mention even the majority 

 of these species without risk of confusing the 

 reader, but it is desirable to note a few important 

 and strongly marked types inhabiting widely 

 separated localities in the United States. 



The California Chipmunk 1 is a merry- 

 hearted little elf, particularly pert and beauti- 

 ful. Its high, sharp-pointed ears and harlequin 

 stripes of white give it a very roguish and saucy 

 look. To judge by the lively actions of this little 

 creature, it seems to regard life as a long play- 

 spell. There are many in the Zoological Park, 

 and in some respects they are the most satisfac- 

 tory of all our burrowing rodents. Only the 

 severest weather drives them into their burrows, 

 arid in the dead of winter, when a thick blanket 

 of snow keeps all other animals of the Burrowing 

 Rodents' Quarters snug under ground, the first 

 hour of clear sunshine will see half a dozen of the 

 California Chipmunks above ground, and sun- 

 ning themselves on their logs. Having an abun- 

 dance of room, they enjoy their life in the Park, 

 and are much interested in visitors who notice 

 them. 



This species could easily and safely be intro- 

 duced in any region suitable for it. Its home 

 is in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Moun- 

 tains, California, but the limits of its range are 

 yet to be defined. It is one of the smallest spe- 

 1 Eu'tam-i-as spe-ci-o'sus. 



cies of its genus, its total length being 6 + 3 

 inches. 



The Antelope Squirrel 3 is readily recognized 

 by the broad and conspicuous band of white, 

 which extends along the middle of the side, and 

 its pale buff color. It has the pale colors of a 



Photo, by E. D. Warren, 

 say's SPERMOPHILE. 

 (C allospermophihts 

 lateralis.) 



WESTERN CHIPMUNK. 



(Eutamias quadrivit- 



tatus.) 



desert animal. It is found in the desert regions 

 of the southwest from western Texas to southern 

 California, and northward to Nevada and Utah. 

 It is larger than the eastern species, and is 

 strikingly different in appearance from all other 

 chipmunks. 



Ground Squirrels. 



We have now reached a large group of bur- 

 rowing squirrels which to the farmers west of 

 the Mississippi are of very serious importance, 

 on account of the grain they destroy. All these 

 animals may be known under the name of Sper'- 

 mo-philes. The word Spermophile means " seed- 

 lover"; and as this very appropriate general 

 term implies, the animals which bear it feed 

 chiefly upon seeds or grain. 



No ground squirrel, or spermophile, ever 

 should be called a "gopher," as is frequently 

 done in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The latter 

 name should be reserved for the clumsy, bur- 

 rowing pocket gophers, of the genera Geomys 

 and Thomomys. 



Ground squirrels live by preference on prairies, 

 2 Am-mo-sper-moph'i-lus leu-cu'rus. 



