New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-22
CENTRAL P.ink ~ OCTOBER.
HOW BIRDS BEASTS AND INSECTS ARE PRE-
PAIRING FOR THE WINTER.

HOW BIRDS, BEASTS AND INSECTS ARE PRE-
PAIRING FOR THE WINTER.
In no part OF the city the observer more
certainly notice the approach Of winter than in
Central Park. The leaves have taken on their
brilliant autumn tnts and thousands OF them
circle around in the air for minute and then fall
noselessy to the ground. Some OF the stretches
about the Rambe and the northern end OF the
Park are a glory of color. The Virginia creeper
has turned the rocks upon which 1t clings q
blood red, while the variegated maple, the yellow
leaves of the oak the brown of the beech. and
the long streamers of the weeping willow. now
turned pale yellow, furnish a gorgeous de
verslty.
1t is not the trees alone which show that winter
Is near. The squirrels never busier than
they now. picking up the acorns and the
beech nuts, and other nuts which have fallen
among the dried leaves They can be seen all day
long actively at work tossing the leaves here and
there with their small feet until they ind nut.
AS soon as one is found the discoverer hurries to
his storehouse, for he is putting up his store for
the winter. These squirrel granaries are in places
Of all sorts. A hollow In tree is probably handed
down from father to SON. Then there are small
cellars. as it were. where three or four branches
springing from one spot form a natural cup.
There are holows among the roots that are used
for storchouses and squirrels also hide their food
under some of the buildings about the Park, or
under the piles of lumber that have been heaped
up here and there. one squirrel mas discovered
that the oval vases at the corners or the eS'
planade overlooking the lake are hollow, and 10
storing his nuts in one of these vases. Moreover.
these little creatures not neglectng their nests.
The round balls of dead leaves. up In the branches.
generally OF the frs have been robbed OF their
last winters covering by the storms and winds
Of the last months. and the little squirrel can
be seen any day carrying up leaves and pokng
them In with his nose and forefeet, until he has
made coverlet for himself and his spouse that
Will keep the coming cold.
The water-rats taking down into their holes
the dry leaves and nibbing off the dead blades OF
grass which go below too, so as 10 make a warm
home for the winter. They also carry down any
garbage they can find TO ill the winter larder.
The moles are more active now than usual, driv-
ing their tunnels everywhere. and making ex.
istence uncomfortable for the worms. Those that
caught exceedingly fat. for they will soon
find the ground too hard to burrow in. They then
ana exist, IN sleep on Their own S rat o,
derfuly full Of birds by far the greater number or
them being those that are seen here only N the me
which rested here for few days last April and
back With their families to T use the Park again a.
a restng-place as they fly south 10 escape the
warblers of several sorts, the olivebacked thrush
hy-catchers, wrens and many sorts or inches
Ing place among the trees and 'bram6ss. and II
searching for food Few remain here. BY far the
greater number In day continue their SOUTH
ward flight.
Among the few remaining flowers may be OBJ.
served many drones which have been driven OUT
of the hives Of the bees which have no further
use for them and have no intention OF feeding
these gentlemen of leisure through the winter.
These drones find 1t hard work TO suck a living
out OF the fading flowers. with the first har0
frost every one of them will be dead. The bum.
be-bees are still toiling. and the writer. who
knows Of nest near ut
out of the small tunnel which led to their sub
terranean home. The ground wasps also are dili.
gent creatures. burrowing out their small holes
In the side of any hill where the sun sun keeps
the sandy soil warm They I'LL these holes with
captured caterpillars and spiders, which they sting
into insensiblity, and then lay an egg In each one
OF them. closing the cell and leaving the grub,
when 1t shall hatch, to feed on these entombed
insects and begin new life in the coming spring.
or the few caterpars which are left, some can
be noticed crawling down the trunks OF trees.
seeking out crannes In the bark In which they
can weave their cocoons, while others are bur-
rowing into the ground where they soon turn
into chrysalises and lie dormant. On every side
nature Is preparing for winter. -,