THE SQUIRRELS AND OTHER RODENTS OF THE ADIRONDACK^. 343 



In former times the black squirrel, which is nothing but a color variety of the 

 gray, and the two of which were often found in the same nest, was very abundant, 

 but now appears to be very rare. At least, in the five years of the writer's 

 official experience in the State he has heard of but one live specimen. 



Another large species, the fox squirrel, Sciurus ludovicianus vicinus Bangs, was 

 formerly found in many parts of the State and occasionally in the Adirondacks. 

 Bachman, in 1839, says: "In the northern part of New York it is exceedingly 

 rare, as I only saw two pairs during fifteen years of close observation." Three 

 specimens, taken in Rensselaer county, in 1853 and 1854, are in the State Museum. 

 It is probably entirely extinct in the State, though occasionally found in more 

 southern regions, which suit them better, as they are more improvident than the 

 gray squirrels, and, not caring to lay up such supplies, they like regions where 

 there is less cold and deep snow. 



The eastern chipmunk, like the red squirrel, has recently been divided into 

 two subspecies. Of these Tamias striatus striates Linnaeus, the southeastern 

 chipmunk, which is of a richer, browner color, occurs in New York only in the 

 lower Hudson valley. The other, T. s. lysteri Richardson, is of a paler yellow 

 color and is found abundantly throughout the State. 



The chipmunk is the only eastern representative of the group of ground 

 squirrels, which are so much more common in the Western States. He is usually 

 seen chasing across the roads or trails, or around the brush heaps, which furnish 

 him with plenty of nooks into which he can dash when pursued, but which still 

 enable him to see what is going on. He is not at all fond of tree climbing 

 and rarely takes to them except when hard pressed, and he is then obviously ill 

 at ease, often preferring to come down and take his chances with his pursuers 

 rather than stay up. Still, with those personal peculiarities, which we so often 

 find in animals, some chipmunks do not appear to mind climbing to a 

 considerable height, and Merriam tells of one he saw making regular journeys 

 from the top of the beechnut trees to his nest. This, in the woods, is usually 

 found with its openings, for it has several, under the roots of a tree or among the 

 rocks. Into this he will dart when pursued, but before his tail has disappeared 

 he will have whisked around and his bright eyes will be peering out at you. Sit 

 down in front of the hole and he will sit there and watch you, occasionally 

 chippering and stamping, darting back at every move you may make. In the hot, 

 sunny pastures, where he delights to live, one of the openings is usually under a 

 rock and the other off in the grass. Stone has described these holes, which are 

 about an inch across at the surface, suddenly widen, go straight down for a little ways 

 and then branch off into the galleries. There is no trace of the excavated earth near 



