The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1909-10-01

L
far from his burrow to retreat. AS
suming valor out of necessity, he
bristled up bravely and ground his
teeth in a way to strike terror to any,
one near his size, all the time facing
me, but gradually backing away. In
spite of his miniature ferocity, made
a dash for him, but he was too quick
and the underground too thick, and
he escaped His hole must have been
near, for the rustling of the leaves
would have betrayed him had he far
to run.
Woody was quite fat even at this
early time of the year, so he must
have seen his shadow at Candelmas
Day and not retired for another six
months sleep. Later in the year L
saw him often. He had a burrow be-
side the stone wall, having thrown
up much yellow soil. 1t was partly
protected by the fringe of bushes and
vines that edged the wall. He also
had another entrance or exit on the
other side of the wall, which was the
wood side. This hole was unmarked
by any upheaval of earth, and was
more in the nature of a secret en-
trance. Besides these, out in the
middle of the field, beside rock that
projected from the ground and shell
tered some blackberry bushes from
the moving machine, he had another
large burrow, perhaps a sort of coun-
try seat. Whether this was con-
nected by underground chambers
with the others 1 do not know, but
think it was. 1t was over hundred
feet away. At the mouth of this
hole Towser loved to paw and snuff
and violently firt the dirt out behind
his hind legs, in an eager attempt to
get at Woody.
Often in the early mornings of sum-
mer, when there was dew on the
grass, Woody might be seen in the
meadow, roofing at the succulent
grasses, whose roots he nibbled with
great relish. A tuft here and there
of red clover was especially appre-
ciated by him. Again, toward sunset
or late in a warm afternoon, would
see him sitting peacefully at the door
of his mound by the wall facing the
sunset, with all the self-satisfaction
of a well-fed philosopher. When ap-
preached too near, he would give a
sharp whistle or squeak of protest,
and jump down the hole. Almost i'm
mediately his nose appeared at the
doorway to see if you were coming
nearer, and if so, he disappeared for
good. And dig as you might, you
would not overtake him that day.
Safe in some corner of his subterra-
mean chambers, he was doubtless
woodworking to himself.
l was familiar with the ground
squirrels of the Far West and found
| that Woody in all his habits resem-
bled them, but in looks he is quite
another person. Fat and round OF
body, short of TAIL short legs, little
round ears and habit of bristling ul
his hair all over, till his funny face
| becomes stubborn and gruff and even
savage Such is the animal some call
marmott, the Indians Wenusk, the
scientists Arctomys monax, and every
body commonly knows as the wood
chuck. He is an earnest little chap
quite unlike his fiippant cousins, the
gray squirrels.
About the first of November, hav'
ing grown fat and lazy on good food
Woody retires to his underground
room, stopping up the entrance, and
rolling into ball, sleeps the sleep ot
the just until the next spring. 1t is
a long goodnight that he says, ant
no wonder he awakes hungry on Can
dlemas Day.