The true GROUND SQUIRRELS (_Tamias_) are distinguished from the rest of the Squirrels (_Sciurinæ_), and approach the Marmots, which form a second sub-family of Sciuridæ. Like some of the latter, they possess large cheek-pouches opening into the mouth. The ears in this genus are short; the fourth toe of the fore feet is longer than the rest, as in all the Sciurinæ; the limbs are short, and nearly equal in length; and the tail is shorter than in the true Squirrels. In general form and appearance, however, the Ground Squirrels greatly resemble the latter, except that they are rather stouter in the body. Four species of this group inhabit the continent of North America, where they are known as Chipmunks; and one of these, according to Mr. J. A. Allen, is identical with the only known Old World species (_Tamias asiaticus_), which is found in North-eastern Europe and across Northern Asia, as far as the mouth of the Amoor, North China, and Japan. This species, which goes by different names in the different localities which it inhabits, and the COMMON CHIPMUNK (_Tamias striatus_) of the United States, agree very closely in all respects, and are exceedingly pretty little animals, with light-coloured fur adorned with darker stripes, varied in the case of the Chipmunk with streaks of white. They are from eight to ten inches long, including the tail. These animals live in burrows in the ground, and feed upon nuts, acorns, grain, and other seeds of various kinds, of which they lay up great stores in the autumn, carrying home their provisions in their cheek-pouches, which they stuff as full as they can hold. In this way they do no small damage to cultivated grounds near their haunts, plundering the corn and maize fields very freely; over eight pounds of corn in the ear are often found in the granaries of the Siberian form. The burrow is made deep enough to protect the animals from frost in winter, and the sleeping chamber contains a large nest of leaves and grass, in which several individuals, probably the parents with their grown-up family, sleep through the cold weather; but it must be remarked that their torpidity is very imperfect, and that they have frequent recourse to the supplies of food which they have stored up during the summer and autumn in separate chambers at the ends of lateral passages. These stores are so large that they generally greatly exceed the wants of the provident little animals, and in the spring the residue is greedily devoured by Wild Pigs and Bears. Even the poorer human inhabitants of the countries frequented by the Ground Squirrels do not disdain to eke out their scanty means of subsistence by plundering the hoards of these animals. Many of them perish in severe winters, great numbers are destroyed by man, by the smaller Carnivora, and by birds of prey, but, nevertheless, they manage to hold their own, in consequence of the great fertility of the females, which produce several young twice in the year, namely, in