The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-05-22
THE NEVADA CHIPMUNk.
haoits ana Instincts of the Little DEM
zens of Sage RrnSh Land

Habits and Instincts of the Little Deni-
zens of Sage Brush Land.
The Nevada chipmunk. although of
the genus IdmtaS, differs much from
the striped ground squirrel of tn. East
ern States, Tamias lysteri 1t is
smaller, lacks the side stripes and con-
stantly carries its tail curled over it's
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 pet for over five years,
and 1t Is rs vigorous and playful as at
n St When first caught it was full
grown. and may then have been two or
three years cd.
lis home Is in roomy cage, from
which ladder leads up to a dark box
or nest-house, to which is attached a
revolving wheel. In a week or two
after the squirrel was placed in this
cage it was observed that its ewes be-
came dull, its hair turned the wrong
way and it became sluggish. Knowing
it was burrowing animal, it was
thought 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, spinnin =
round and round in chase of its tail and
turning sommersault5. In week its
co WAS as glossy as that of a mole,
and its eyes as bright rs diamonds II
still ha spell of skvlarking whence er
1t $ given a fresh box of dirt. and in a
dHy or two has balanced in its paws and
critically examined every pebble and
bit Of gravel to be fou.i.
About once a 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
inc bar of his cage in each paw and
bark almost necessarily for days if not
given something to stow awav Being
furnished with a stock of pine-nU 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 ike a 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 bis hind feet, closes his ewes
and becomes perfectly rigid In this
state, press ng his jaws while rubbing
them, he finally loses his balance and
falls over on his back, stiff as a stick,
when he seems much a. named of him
self.
These squirrels eat almost every
thing; NUS of all kinds. bread. pota-
toes, apples and all kinds of seeds and
berries. They are also very fond of
green stuff, as lettuce, Gerry ana the
ike. They are very sensible to weather
changes, and before storm every scrap
of rag or paper obtainable is carried 10
the nest. The airing of TIE nest always
means fair weather. Territorial Enter
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