190 GNAWING ANIMALS 



The most beautiful squirrel in the world is Prevost's 

 Squirrel^ of the Malay Peninsula, a species about the size 

 of a small gray squirrel. Its colors form a beautiful pattern 

 of gray, brown, black, white, and buff. 



Rock Squirrels, or Chipmunks 



Next below the tree squirrels comes a large group of small 

 squirrels which live on the ground, preferably amongst rocks, 

 in which they find refuge from their enemies. In the absence 

 of rocks, they live along fences, where any exist; but their 

 favorite nesting places are in hollow trees which can be en- 

 tered directly from the ground. 



These little creatures are about one-third the size of large 

 tree squirrels, and inasmuch as their small size renders them 

 secure from the deadly attentions of man, they have become 

 the most tame and confiding of all the wild mammals of civ- 

 ilization. They are graceful in form, beautiful in color 

 markings, and exceedingly pert and quick in their movements. 

 When fully protected, as they are in some public parks, they 

 become so tame and confiding that they dart about on the 

 walks in search of food, and often allow persons to pass within 

 three feet of them. 



For convenience and clearness, we shall designate all the 

 chipmunks as Rock Squirrels, because of their well-known 

 preference for rocks, whenever any are available. It is a 

 mistake to call these animals "ground squirrels." That 

 name does not properly apply to them, but belongs to the 

 next group. 



1 Sci-u'rus pre-vost'i. 



