The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-02-19
Habits Of the Nevada Chipn,unk ms
Developed in Captivity.

| The Nevada chpmunk, differs much
from the striped ground squirrels of the
Eastern States. 1t is smaller, la Ks the
side stripes and constantly carries lis tail
curled over its back. The under side Of
the tail is white, and when the little AMI
nal is running directly from the observer
about all that is seen IS what appears to he
an animated bunch Of cotton. For this
reason the miners call tie little SQUIRRELS
cotton-tailed chipmunks. The writer has
had ore rs pet for over FIVE years, and it
is as vigorous and playful as at first.
When frs caught it was full grown, and
and may then have been two or three wears
old
Its home is in a rOOmy cage. from which
ladder leads up 10 q dark box, or nest
house, to which is ait.ehcd revolving
wheel. In q week or two after the squirrel
was placed in this cage it was obscr, cd
that its eyes became dull, its hair turned
| the wrong way ana il became slug.; II.
knowing ii was burfowinU animal il was
thought cigar box OF soil m...il i.r,,re
acceptable to it. When this wa, ,,i,..'.;; in
the lower or basement cage tae s,.,s4rr,-l
bounded into it, rolled over ind over, and
with its paws sent the dir. iiving in
showers. Every day it took its dust ar.
spinning ronnd and round u cl.a.y Of lis
tail and turning someTSailti. In Il wee.
its coat was is glossy rs that of a N IT,.
and its eyes IS hri sht as d Il nil,ls.
still las n spell of skvlarking Whenever il
IL givcl Il ir sal box IF dirt aud al Il Il Il,
or two has balanced ia its paws AMI cr.i
cal!y examined every pebble and bit L.
grave to be- found.
About once n week tie little feijow in :
down tie ladder from lis ncst !i,us.. ~. r.
bit Of rag and paper constit;,i. his b.,i
These he spIcaI:s on the linIT a. tiu LARGE.
cage to air, turning and sh"..in: q. Il
piece occasionally for abplI; Al nu;is, m4,--
al is carried up the laiidci ::..a j.,,i.d
away in toe bed Too:.i. A. Ike ls,...r H.
these squirrels in the wild s,ase is j.. mr.
rows in the ground, where the lcaSts a..
grasses forming their .;csta bl'G,ue t!..,s .
and musty, this aiIiag l. t'o,.b - tx :.
sult OF carly eiiucatipa or IIis.;I.ct
In the fal of the year the instinct of la.
ing i'll stock of provisions co.. es il.t.t...
fully upon the little fellow. He ilGc,r
winter IS coming, and having ~ 81 u
nuts lor grass seeds, he fears starr. .,.5s
and is wild Gboat it. lie VIA tsiril : 49,,
on his hind feet, graspn; a h oi
cage i'll each hand aud hHik al.rt,s: inc b.
sanity for days if mol given > nett. q
stow away Being furnished Wit. y ,,.u
OF peanuts he is happy and The l. . u
ceases. lie fills his oh, eks ami - in a..
ing away the nuts, some in his box / RI
some in his bedroom and o. her, u. g..
corners To probe one VI taese .t....,.
with stick or pencil causes the lite ri
low to howl an fight Ike a den!on. iir Is
fond of being scratched about he head AMI
when rubbed under the jaws with the
point OF a pencil he ut once Stands erect
upon his hind feet, c,oses his eyes and be-
comes perfec ~ rigid. In this stat press
ing his Jaws while rGhbirg them, +,
finally loses his balance and tails over on
his back, still as stick, when he seems
much ashamed Of hinself-lTtiI.tori.a
Enterprise.