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THE STORY OF THE CHIPMUNK. 
appearance of its tail, out pops its head, the keen dark eyes gazing intently 
at the source of alarm. If not pursued further, it is very apt to advance 
towards the supposed enemy, betraying excitement by a series of nervous starts 
and precipitous retreats, till finally, making a bold rush, it dashes by the object 
of dread, and in another instant is peering out from a hole beneath the roots 
of a neighboring tree. The chipmunk does not make an agreeable pet, and it 
is apt to be sulky and morose, and disposed to bite the fingers of any one who 
offers it food. 
The ground-squirrel of Siberia, portions of Eastern Europe, and North 
America, together with several other closely-allied North American species 
* commonly known as chipmunks, constitute a group serving to connect the 
squirrel family with the susliks. The chipmunks are indeed so closely allied 
to the true squirrels that Dr. Forsyth-Major proposes to include them in 
the same family. They differ, however, from both the spiny-squirrels and 
the true squirrels in the possession of pouches inside the cheeks; on which 
account they may, for the present at least, be allowed to stand under the title 
by which they are commonly known. They are further characterized by the 
sides, or the back and sides together, being marked by white or grayish- 
white stripes bordered by black bands. The ears are of medium size or 
small, and are never tufted with long hair. 
