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GROUND SQUIRREL.

Tuis pretty little animal, from its bearing some
resemblance to the dormouse, not only in its external
form, but also in its habits, was named by Pennant,
the striped dormouse.

Tt seems to be easily tamed; thus it is related of one
which Mr. I. H. Greenhow had opportunities of observing,
that it “played about, regardless of the persons to whom
it was accustomed, but was always timid before strangers,
skulking into a corner of its cage, and burying itself
in some dry grass placed there for its bed. It had a
very shrill whistling cry, which it repeated at intervals
as it jumped against the wires in front of its cage.
Tt was exceedingly nimble, and could get through very
small crevices, frequently escaping by pressing asunder
the wires, and on these occasions was very difficult
to re-capture, but if allowed to run about the room
for some time, would attempt to re-enter its cage of
its own accord.”

Mr. Henry Doubleday says, “There are many ground
squirrels in the woods. There is one so tame as to
come into the house. He came to mea few days ago
as I was sitting in the porch, and ran over my boots,
examining them very attentively; then he disappeared
through a grating into the dairy, where he goes to drink
the milk; then he ran up the piazza, and round the
house: he often steals almonds, etc., from our dining-
room.”

Mr. R. E. Taylor says that the grey squirrel, black
squirrel, ground squirrel, and red squirrel, which are

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