The sun., 1905-11-12

sparrows, chickadees, kinglets, vireos
brown creepers and bluebirds can all be
found hunting insects among the branches
of the walnut trees, which of all trees seem
to attract the birds in largest numbers
at this season. The myrtle warblers are
always on the move and do not hesitate
to dispute with the buebirds the owner
ship Of certain branch or tree.
Along the country roadsides and borders
of the grain fields the chewinks, white
throated sparrows, juncoes, song 81 arrows,
tree sparrows and chipping sparrows hunt
for their food of seeds and insects, and
when disturbed nervously take flight to
shelter in the shrubbery. Often the rus
Ting Of a leaf is the first intimation that
one has Of the presence Of these birds, and
peering carefully into the bushes he will
see white throat or q chewink deSterousy
scratching among the leaves With sys-
tematic thoroughness it works the ground
over, kicking the leaves out behind it in a
rather ludiCrous manner.
But the mammals are even more active
than the birds in preparing for the winter
Most of the birds migrate and but few
mammals do.
The woodchuck or grounding made
hay before the farmer cut his crop. He
has srent his entire time from late in Au-
gust. even during moonlight nights, eat
ing the clover heads and stealing the
farmers vegetables.
The result is that he has filed his con-
tract with nature and has clothed himself
in a layer of thick fat that will not only
keep him warm but will nourish him while
he sleeps. During the Indian summer
days, after the crops are harvested. leaving
exposed the entrance TO his burrow. he will
crawl to the mouth and seated on the mound
of earth. take farewell look at the world
before retiring for the winter.
Along the streams and in the marshes
the muskrat is busy building his winter
house. He piles olots Of dirt, sticks, weeds
and other rubbish, gathered along the
waters margin and the bottoms of the
streams or lakes
Swiftly and silently he swims along,
carrying the nesting materials in his mouth.
In the rushes in shallow water he deposits
his load and returns for more. In a months
time he will have made noun d house
several feet high
In the centre Of this mound there is
room wet and small to be sure, but large
enough and high enough above the water
to house his family comfortably. From
here he will make excursions after food
and, no doubt, in time of storms he will
60 hungry but somehow he usually man.
ages to survive until spring.
The gray squirrels have left their summer
nests OF dried leaves and taken quarters
In the hollow tree trunks, They, like the
red squirrels, chipmunks and many other
smaller rodents. are busy laying in their
winters harvest of nuts, grain and seeds.
The chipmunks make hundreds Of trips
over the same routes before their under
ground storehouses are stocked. Watch
one as he travels back and forth from a
nut laden beech to his burrow
Gracefully he scampers along a stone
wall pausing at intervals to see that the
coast is clear, Then with dash he crosses
an open space and mounts the log on which
you are seated. II you fYighten him. he
cries out, loud and sharply and disappears
instantly.
Soon you zee him peeping at You from
the other end Of the tree trunk, Back and
forth, from one side of the log TO the other
he scrambles. 1t is evident that you are
directly in his line Of travel, and that he is
trying TO figure out a way to get past and yet
not expose himself to other enemies by
crossing open ground.
Finally he disappears over the side of the
log and when next you see him he is creep
ing along the ground under cover OF tie
shelving side Of the tree trunk. Nearer
and nearer he comes III you are quite mo-
tionless), until he is almost under your feet
Then with a sudden dash he shoots between
your legs, shouts defianty at you and dives
under the nearest shelter, there to remain
until his little excitement has again SUBJ
sided.