THE JUMPING MOUSE, 
25^ 
fall to the ground under its seat on a lofty pine bough. In 
the winter it collects the cones of spruce and pine, and car- 
ries them to the entrance of its burrow, where it picks out 
the seeds beneath the snow. It also makes hoards of seeds, 
etc., on the approach of winter. 
The gray squirrel {SciurusCarolinensis) makes rude nests 
of leaves in trees where its young may be found in April 
and May. It feeds on nuts and acorns, and is active dur- 
ing the winter. 
The wood-chuck {Ardomys monax) is a mischievous crea- 
ture, destructive to gardens and field crops, especially red 
clover. It is rather social, making burrows in the sides of 
hills which extend to a great distance, and end in various 
chambers, according to the number of inhabitants. The 
chambers are lined with dry grass or leaves, and here they 
pass the winter in a torpid state, previously closing the en- 
trance. There are six young to a litter. 
The common pocket gopher [Geomys hursarms, see 
Frontispiece, left side) burrows in sandy soil and feeds on 
acorns, nuts, roots, and grass, which they carry to their 
burrows in their enormous hanging cheek-pouches, which 
when full have an oblong form and nearly touch the ground. 
It inhabits the valley of the Mississippi and its tributaries. 
The jumping mouse (Fig. 297) has remarkably long bind 
legs and shoit fore legs. This creature hibernates in the 
winter months. According to Maynard, it enters the ground 
before the frosts set in, and makes a burrow from five to 
seven feet in depth, usually in sandy soil. At the end of 
Fig. 297.— Jumping Mouse (Zapus Hudsonius). 
