A YEAR IN THE FIELDS 



which he had stolen from a near field. The 

 hole was only a few rods from where we 

 were getting out stone, and as our work 

 progressed, and the racket and uproar in- 

 creased, the chipmunk became alarmed. 

 He ceased carrying in, and after much 

 hesitating and darting about, and some pro- 

 longed absences, he began to carry out ; he 

 had determined to move ; if the mountain 

 fell, he, at least, would be away in time. 

 So, by mouthfuls or cheekfuls, the grain 

 was transferred to a new place. He did 

 not make a "bee" to get it done, but car- 

 ried it all himself, occupying several days, 

 and making a trip about every ten minutes. 

 The red and gray squirrels do not lay by 

 winter stores ; their cheeks are made with- 

 out pockets, and whatever they transport is 

 carried in the teeth. They are more or less 

 active all winter, but October and Novem- 

 ber are their festal months. Invade some 

 butternut or hickory-nut grove on a frosty 

 October morning, and hear the red squirrel 

 beat the "juba" on a horizontal branch. 

 It is a most lively jig, what the boys call 

 a "regular break-down," interspersed with 

 squeals and snickers and derisive laughter. 

 The most noticeable peculiarity about the 

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