744 Home Nature-Study Course. 



(2). Where is it likely to be situated? 



(3). Where is the earth placed that is taken from the burrow? 



(4). How is it brought out? 



(5). How is the burrow made so that the dwellers in it are not 

 drowned out in case of heavy rains? 



(6). How many woodchucks inhabit the same dwelling? 



(7). What directions do the woodchuck galleries follow? 



(8). Where are the nests placed in relation to the galleries? 



(9). Of what are the nests made? 



(10). How is the bedding carried in? 



(11). What is the use made of the nest? 



(12). Is the woodchuck likely to have one or more back doors? If 

 so, what is their use? 



(13). How do the back doors differ from the front door? 



(14). Do you find paths leading to the entrance of the burrow? If 

 so, describe them. 



(15). How can you tell whether a woodchuck is at home or not if 

 you do not see it enter? 



(16). Where is the woodchuck likely to station itself when it sits, up 

 to look for intruders? 



Facts for the Teacher. — The ground hog makes its burrow by digging the earth 

 loose with its front feet and pushing it backward and out of the hole with its hind 

 feet. The burrow is likely to be situated near a fence or stone heap where the 

 animal has easy access to acceptable food. The earth is heaped up close to the 

 entrance of the hole and is simply pushed or kicked out. The direction of the 

 burrow slants downward for a little ways and then rises at an easy angle so that 

 there is no danger of being flooded out. During the early part of the season the 

 father and mother and the litter of young may inhabit the same burrow, although 

 there are likely to be at least two separate nests. The nest is simply an enlargement 

 of the burrow, lined with soft grass which the woodchucks bring in in their mouths. 

 There is usually more than one back door to the woodchuck's dwelling where it 

 may escape if pressed too closely by enemies. These back doors differ from the 

 entrance, in that they are usually hidden or inconspicuous and have no earth heaped 

 up near them. Paths radiate off into the grass in all directions from the entrance 

 to the burrow. The woodchucks follow these paths in going out to feed. Every 

 country boy knows this method of finding whether a ground hog is in its burrow 

 or not: Roll a small stone into the burrow and listen. If the inmate is at home 

 It soon begins to dig, pushing the earth out behind it so as to form a barrier. 



References.— "V^M Animals," Stone & Cram; "Wild Neighbors," 

 Ingersoll ; " Squirrels and Other Fur Bearers," Burroughs, 



