S.TRIPER SQUIRREL. 
95 
collect provisions in autumn for the winter,, a;ul 
store them in their holes. They have two cheek 
pouches ; which they fill with corn in the fields, 
and in this manner convey it home. 
They are natives of America, and dig holes in 
the ground, which serve for their habitations, and 
to which they fly for shelter whenever danger 
is near. Their holes are deep ; and commonly 
divided into many branches, from one of which 
they have an opening to the surface of the ground. 
The advantage they derive from this is, that when 
they ramble abroad for food, and are prevented 
from entering the hole at which they went out, they 
may not expose themselves to their pursuers, but 
immediately retreat into the other. But in au~ 
tumn, when the leaves are falling from the trees* 
it is very diverting to observe their consternation 
when pursued : for their holes being covered with 
leaves, they have then some difficulty in folding 
them ; they run backward and forward, as though 
they had lost their way ; and seem to know where 
their subterraneous haunts lie, but cannot discover 
the entrances. If they are pursued, and any sud- 
den or loud noise is made, they are constrained to 
take refuge in the trees ; but this they never do 
unless in cases of necessity. 
Their subterraneous dwellings are formed with 
much art ; being worked into long galleries, with 
branches on each side, and each terminating in 
an enlarged apartment, in which they hoard their 
stock of winter provision. Their acorns are 
lodged in one ; in a second the maize ; in a third 
the hickery nuts ; and in the fourth, perhaps 
their most favourite food, the chesnut. Nature 
has given them a fine convenience for collecting 
their provisions, in their cheek pouches ; which 
they fill with different articles of their food, that 
are to be conveyed to their magazines. In Siberia 
