THE GROUND SQUIRREL. 



This animal differs greatly from the Common Squirrel in its habits. 

 Timid and wild in its difpofition, it cannot be tamed without the greateft 

 difficulty, and feldom difcovers any marks of attachment ; it never afcends 

 trees, except when it is purfued, and cannot efcape by any other means. 



The Ground Squirrel lives in burrows, which it forms for itfelf under- 

 ground; thefe it conftru&s with two entrances, both for conveniency and 

 fecurity. Although thefe retreats are conftru&ed in the dark, they are 

 formed with great Ikill : they confill of a long gallery, which branches on 

 each lide into two avenues, each terminating in a large chamber, which 

 ferves as a magazine, or ftorehoufe, for their Hock of winter provilions. In 

 one they depofit acorns, in another hickery nuts, in a third maize, and in the 

 fourth the chinquapin chefnut, which is their favourite food (a.) 



They feldom ftir out of their burrows during the winter, unlefs their 

 ftock of pro virions is exhaufted: when that happens, they dig their way into 

 cellars where apples are kept, or into granaries of maize, where they do 

 great mifchief. On thefe occalions they are often interrupted by Cats, which 

 deftroy great numbers of them. Thefe Squirrels are very adlive in the maize 

 harveft, biting off the ears, and cramming their mouths full of the grain. It 

 appears that they give the preference to certain foods, for if they are going 

 home with their mouth full of rye, and chance to meet with wheat, they 

 inftantly get rid of the former, and fill their mouth with the latter. 



The Ground Squirrel inhabits the vail forefls of North America, where it 

 is found in great abundance; it is likewife found in the northern parts of 

 Afia. 



The Ikin of thefe animals is of little value: it is, however, fometimes 

 ufed as a lining for cloaks. 



(a) Pennant, 



