272 FAMILIAR LIFE IN FIELD AND FOREST. 



The red squirrel io reddish brown throughout the 

 summer ; but twice in the year he sheds his hair, and 

 during the winter his aspect is much duller, and the 

 red is not nearly so pronounced. Beneath he is white, 

 and there is a dark line where this white meets the 

 red on the sides. In winter the white is toned with 

 brown gray, and the dark dividing line disappears. 



The chipmunk {Tamias iisterii, formerly Tamias 

 strlatuis) is the red squirrel's cousin ; but they have 

 little to do Avith each other, and 

 avoid all umiecessary meetings. 

 A Western species of 

 this genus, Tmnian necj- 

 lectuK* which is com- 

 mon in northern Mich- 



The Chipmunk. 



igan, Wisconsin, and 

 IMinnesota, is distinguished by the four stripes on 

 its back instead of the three which characterize the 

 miire Eastern species strlatus. The stripes, except 

 the black, dorsal one, are white in the middle and 

 liordered on either side with black. This "Western 

 cliipmunk only hibernates when his food supply is 

 cut off by the snow ; he will remain out wheu the 

 temperature is as low as 15°. North Bay, Lake 

 ISTipissing, Canada, is the most easterly point where 

 he has been found. 



* Formerly Tamiuti quadrivitatus. 



