d the chipmunk from a dense Norway spruce, when I chanced to
become a spectator of the little drama. There sat the cat crouched low
on the grass, her big, yellow eyes fixed upon the chipmunk, and there
sat the chipmunk at the mouth of his den, motionless, with his eyes
fixed upon the cat. For a long time neither moved. "Will the cat bind
him with her fatal spell?" I thought. Sometimes her head slowly lowered
and her eyes seemed to dilate, and I fancied she was about to spring.
But she did not. The distance was too great to be successfully cleared
in one bound. Then the squirrel moved nervously, but kept his eye upon
the enemy. Then the cat evidently grew tired and relaxed a little and
looked behind her. Then she crouched again and riveted her gaze upon the
squirrel. But the latter would not be hypnotized; he shifted his
position a few times and finally quickly entered his den, when the cat
soon slunk away.

In digging his hole it is evident that the chipmunk carries away the
loose soil. Never a grain of it is seen in front of his door. Those
pockets of his probably stand him in good stead on such occasions. Only
in one instance have I seen a pile of earth before the entrance to a
chipmunk's den, and that was where the builder had begun his house late
in November, and was probably too much hurried to remove this ugly mark
from before his door. I used to pass his place every morning in my walk,
and my eye always fell upon that little pile of red, freshly-dug soil.
A little later I used frequently to surprise the squirrel furnishing his
house, carrying in dry leaves of the maple and plane tree. He would
seize a large leaf and with both hands stuff it into his cheek pockets,
and then carry it into his den. I saw him on several different days
occupied in this way. I trust he had secured his winter stores, though I
am a little doubtful. He was hurriedly making himself a new home, and
the cold of December was upon us while he was yet at work. It may be
that he had moved the stores from his old quarters, wherever they were,
and again it may be that he had been dispossessed of both his house and
provender by some other chipmunk.

I have been told by a man who says he has seen what he avers, that the
reason why we do not find a pile of fresh earth beside the hole of the
chipmunk is this: In making his den the workman continues his course
through the soil a foot or more under the surface for several yards,
carrying out the earth