St. Landry democrat., 1885-02-28
The NEVADA cHIPMuNk.
Habits and Instincts of the Little Deni-
zans of Sage Brush Land.

Habits and Instincts of the Little Deni-
zans of Sage Brush Land
The Nevada chipmunk, although of
the genus T'ansas, differs much from
the striped ground squirrel of the East
ern States, 1'amiGs Iysteri. 1t is
smaller, lacks the side stripes and con-
stantly carries its tail curled over its
back. The under side of the tail is
white, and when the little animal is
running directly from the observer
about all seen is what appears to be an
animated bunch of cotton. For this
reason the miners call the little squirrels
cotton-tailed chipmunks.
Although credited with being very
active and playful, these little squirrels
have probably never been thought to
have a very great amount of intelli-
gence. They are, however, wise and
thoughtful little creatures. The writer
has had one as a pet for over five years,
and it is as vigorous and playful as at
first. When first caught it was full
grown, and may then have been two or
three years old.
Its home is in a roomy cage, from
which ladder leads up to dark box
or nest-house, to which is attached
revolving wheel. In q week or two
after the squirrel was placed in this
cage it was observed that its eyes be-
came dull its hair turned the wrong
way and it became sluggish. Knowing
it was burrowing, animal, it was
thought a cigar-box of soil might prove
acceptable to it. When this was placed
in the large lower or basement cage the
squirrel bounded into it, rolled over and
over, and with its paws sent the dirt
and gravel flying in showers. Every
day it took its dust bath, spinning
round and round in chase of its tail and
turning sommerSaultS. In a week its
coat was as glossy as that of mole,
and its eyes as bright as diamonds. 1t
still has spell of skvlarking whenever
it is given a fresh box of dirt, and in a
day or two has balanced in its paws and
critically examined every pebble and
bit of gravel to be found.
About once week the little fellow
Tugs down the ladder from his nest
house every bit of rag and paper con-
shutting his bed. These he spreads on
the floor of the larger cage to air, turn
ing and shaking each piece occasionally
for about an hour, when all is carried
up the ladder and packed away in the
bedroom. AS the home of these squir
rels in the wild state is in burrows in
the ground, where the leaves and
grasses forming their nests become
damp and musty, this airing is doubt
less the result of early education or in
stinct-
In the fall OF the year the instinct of
laying in a stock of provisions comes
powerfully upon the little fellow He
knows winter is coming, and having no
store of nuts or grass seeds, he fears
starvation, and is wild about it, He
will then stand on his hind feet, grasp
ing a barof his cage in each paw and
bark almost necessarily for days if not
given something to stow away. Being
furnished with stock of pine-nuts he is
happy, and the barking ceases. He fills
his cheeks and begins hiding away the
nuts, some in his box of dirt, some in
his bedroom and others in odd corners.
To probe one of these boards with a
stick or pencil causes the little fellow to
howl and fight like demon. He is
fond of being scratched about the head,
and when rubbed under the jaw with
the point of pencil he at once stands
erect upon his hind feet, closes his eyes
and becomes perfectly rigid. In this
state, pressing his jaws while rubbing
them, he finally loses his balance and
falls over on his back, stiff as a stick,
when he seems much Ashamed of him
self
These squirrels eat almost every
thing; nuts of all kinds, bread, pota-
toes, apples and all kinds of seeds and
berries They are also very fond of
green stuff, as lettuce, celery and the
ike. They are very sensible to weather
changes, and before storm every scrap
of rag or paper obtainable is carried to
the nest. The airing of the nest always
means fair weather. - Territorial Enter