232 Handbook of Nature-Study 



10. How does the woodchuck prepare for winter? Where and how 

 does it pass the winter? Did you ever know a woodchuck to come out on 

 Candlemas Day to look for its shadow? 



11. When does the woodchuck appear in the spring? Compare its 

 general appearance in the fall and in the spring and explain the reason for 

 the difference. 



12. When are the young woodchucks born? What do you know of 

 the way the mother woodchuck cares for her young? 



As / turned round the corner of Hubbard's Grove, saw a woodchuck, the first of 

 the season, in the middle of the field six or seven rods from the fence which bounds the 

 wood, and twcntv rods distant. I ran along the fence and cut him off, or rather overtook 

 hint, though he started at the same time. When I was only a rod and a half off, he 

 stopped, and I did the same; then lie ran again, and I ran up within three feet of him, 

 when he stopped again, the fence being between us. I squatted down and surveyed him 

 at my leisure. His eyes were dull black and rather inobvious, with a faint chestnut 

 iris, with but little expression and that more of resignation- than of anger. The general 

 aspect was a coarse grayish brown, a sort of grisel. A lighter brown next the skin, then 

 black or very dark brown and tipped with whitish rather loosely. The head between a 

 squirrel and a bear, fiat on the top and dark brown, and darker still or black on the tip 

 of the nose. The whiskers black, two inches long. The ears very small and roundish, 

 set far back and nearly buried in the fur. Black feet, with long and slender claws for 

 digging. It appeared to tremble, or perchance shivered with cold. When I moved, it 

 gritted its teeth quite loud, sometimes striking the under jaw against the other chatter- 

 ingly, sometimes grinding one jaw on the other, yet as if more from instinct than anger. 

 Whichever way 1 turned, that way it headed. I took a twig a foot long a)id touched its 

 snout, at which it started forward and bit the stick, lessening the distance between us to 

 two feet, and still it held all the ground it gained. I played with it tenderly awhile with 

 the stick, trying to open its gritting jaws. Ever its long incisors, two above and two 

 below, were presented. But I thought itivouldgo to sleep if I stayed long enough. It 

 did not sit upright as sometimes, but standing on its fore feet with its head down, i. e., 

 half sitting, half standing. We sat looking at one another about half an hour, till we 

 began to feel mesmeric influences. When I ivas tired, I moved away, wishing to see 

 him run, but I could not start him. He would not stir as long as I was looking at him 

 or could see him. I walked around him; lie turned as fast and fronted me still. I sat 

 ii,>a'ii by his side within a foot. I talked to him quasi forest lingo, baby-talk, at any rate 

 in a concilatory tone, and thought that I had some influence on him. He gritted his 

 teeth less. I chewed checkerberry leaves and presented them to his nose at last without 

 a grit ; though I saiv that by so much gritting of the teeth he had worn them rapidly and 

 thry were covered ivith a fine white poivder, which, if you measured it thus, would have 

 made his anger terrible. He did not mind any noise I might make. With a little 

 stick I lifted one of his paws to examine it, and held it up at pleasure. I turned him 

 over to see what color he was beneath (darker or most pusely brown) , though he turned 

 himself back again sooner than I could have wished. His 'tail was also brown, though 

 not very dark, rat-tail like, with loose hairs standing out on all sides like a caterpillar 

 brush. He had a rather mild look. I spoke kindly to him. I reached checkerberry 

 leaves to liis mouth. I stretched ntv hands over him, thoiigli he turned up liis head and 

 still gritted a little. 1 laid my hand on liim, but immediately took it off again, instinct 

 not being wholly overcome. If I had had a few fresh bean leai'cs, thus in advance of 

 the season, I am sure I should have tamed him completely. It was a frizzly tail. His 

 is a humble, terrestrial color like the partridge's, well concealed where dead wiry grass 

 rises above darker brown or chestnut dead leaves a modest color. If I had had some 

 food, 1 should have en/led with stroking him at my leisure. Could easily have wrapped 

 him in my handkerchief. He was not fat nor particularly lean. I finally had to leave 

 him without seeing him move from the place. A large, clumsy, burrowing squirrel. 

 Arctom vs, bear-mouse. 1 respect him as one of the natives. He lies there, by his color 

 and habits so naturalized amid the dry leaves, the withered grass, and the bushes. A 

 sound nap, too, he has enjoyed in his native fields, the past u'intcr. I think I might 

 learn some wisdom of him. His ancestors have lived here longer than mine. He is 

 more thoroughly acclimated and naturalized than I. Bean leaves the red man raised 

 for him, but he can do without them. THOREAU'S JOURNAL. 



