The red squirrel stores up large quantities of 

 nuts and seeds for winter use, but the gray and fox 

 squirrels keep searching all winter long for food. 

 White-footed mice, jumping mice, meadow mice, 

 flying squirrels and wood rats also fill their store- 

 houses for winter use. While these animals are quite 

 inactive, they do not enter into an unconscious state, but 

 feed lightly from time to time. The wildcat, like the 

 weasel and shrew, never stops its predaceous activities. 

 The beaver and muskrats, while not so active as in 

 the summer, do venture forth at times during the win- 

 ter months, remaining within their huts during severe 

 spells of weather. 



However, there are certain forms which feed 

 voraciously during the summer months and build up 

 large quantities of fat. When cold weather approaches, 

 these animals retire to their nests, where they are safe 

 from freezing, and enter a deep sleep. All of their ac- 

 tivities and vital processes are reduced to a minimum, 

 so that their metabolic rate is low. Here they remain 

 dormant in their seclusion, breathing faintly, and 

 gradually absorbing the surplus of fatty tissues that 

 were built up during the summer months. 



The bats immediately seek the recesses of caves 

 and hollow trees when insect life ceases activity. The 

 raccoon wanders about until late, seemingly reluctant 

 to give up its regular diet. But. severe weather, which 

 freezes the ponds and streams, forces it to seek a com- 

 fortable nest, where it, too, enters the land of Nod. 



Long before the raccoon retires from the held, the 

 woodchuck has entered its winter sleep and, down be- 

 low the frost line, one may find it in a comatose state, 

 snuggled against another bed-fellow for comfort. 



-*4 38 >*- 



