CHIPMUNK, an American g••und-squir rel, a small animal of the genus Tumid's, six inches long, with a' slender furred tail, nearly' as long as its body, and a •coat of red•. dish-brown fur, sttiped with white on the lack; from the:marking it is called Tamias The eastern species has two white stripes, and the western, chipmunk, 'Tarnias .quodrivittotua,4 which is exceedingly common all -over the Rocky Mountain region, bears four stripes. ground color also is extremely variable ac cording to habitat. This little 'creature is often. found frisking along, stone walls, stopping now and, again to sit erect and dart sharp glances at moving objects... It is generally shy: in the presence of man, and escapes. with great ra inditV, when need arises, into 'some hiding-place, Itshome is a burrow in some woridland tunnel like it structure, sometimes feet long, and always deep enough to be below the frost-hue, It is enlarged into chambers at.
intervals., One of these, supplied' with dried leaves, grass and, like .material tor• bedding,
is, the sleeping apartment; the others are store houses. In them the chipmunk stores his win, ter supplies: of swan and acorns, espe cially the sweet . beech-nuts. These be carries borne, 'often ,several at a time, in his disten sible,cheek pouches.; . They are his thief food; but he will tat, also, htsds, mushrooms and in sects: The breeding season, is in May; and the, young are usually froin four to ber. The chief enemies of the chipmunk are the fox.,and the weaseL. The former is dan gerous only in the ripen, as he is too:large to disturb the chipmunk at, home. But the weasel can attack him in his burrow; and to escape him the chipmunk makes; an opening for pos sible escape, at the far end of his burrow. For consideration of the species of Tamias, consult Allen, A., „Bulletin , af the American Musenm of History'' (Vol.
III, New Yoik Consult also 'Life Histories of Northern Animals' New York 1909). ,