IN FIELD AND WOOD 



supplies carefully down beside the stone wall into 

 which he had disappeared on being liberated, and 

 the next day he had carried a large part of them 

 away. He evidently began at once to " hustle," 

 and I trust he found or made a new retreat from 

 the winter before it was too late. 



I doubt if the chipmunk ever really hibernates ; the 

 hibernating animals do not lay up winter stores, but 

 he no doubt indulges in many very long before-din- 

 ner and after-dinner naps. It is blackest night there 

 in his den three feet under the ground, and this lasts 

 about four months, or until the premonitions of 

 coming spring reach him in March and call him 

 forth. 



I am curious to know if the female chipmunk also 

 digs a den for herself, or takes up with one occupied 

 by the male the previous winter. 



One ought to be safe in generaHzing upon the habits 

 of chipmunks in digging their holes, after observing 

 ten of them, yet one must go slow even then. Niae 

 of the holes I observed had a pile of earth near them; 

 the tenth hole had no dump that I could find. Then 

 I found four holes with the soil hauled out and piled 

 up about the entrance precisely after the manner 

 of woodchucks. This was a striking exception to the 

 general habit of the chipmunk in this matter. " Is 

 this the way the female digs her hole," I asked my- 

 self, " or is it the work of young chipmunks?" 



I have in two cases found holes in the ground on 

 245 



