426 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



where. Second, the species is a profound hibernator, and 

 many, if not most, hibernators, copulate in the autumn. This, 

 indeed, seems to be a rule among hibernators whose gestation 

 exceeds six weeks. 



YOUNG The young are born in the underground nest, about the 



end of April. They number from 2 to 8, but are usually 4 or 5, 

 and like most rodents, are at birth very undeveloped, and ex- 

 ceedingly small. 



As they do not usually come out of the den till mid-June, 

 it is probable that they are blind till a month old, and not 

 strong enough to venture forth till six or seven weeks after birth. 



At this time, if at all, the father comes back to his family. 

 I have heard of several cases; the most detailed was described 

 to me by Robert M. Harrison, of Grand Rapids, Mich. 

 He says, that on July 6, 1905, at a farm three miles west of the 

 city he saw and captured at one hole 2 old Woodchucks and 5 

 young ones. He saw 8 young ones late in the afternoon; the 

 smaller old one was with them. He several times saw the 

 mother come out and look around, then utter a sort of growl 

 that brought the young out. 



One day at five o'clock in the morning he saw both parents 

 with the 8 young out together feeding. The mother came out 

 first and called; the father came out, then went back and 

 brought out all the young ones. When they found that he was 

 near, the mother — that is, the smaller parent — uttered a low 

 groan, that sent the family down below. They often chattered, 

 but he never heard them whistle. 



The young begin to eat solid food as soon as they are old 

 enough to come forth and find it. They do not usually go far 

 from the burrow at this time, but Audubon and Bachman 

 record" a case which also gives interesting light on the devotion 

 of the mother: 



*' Whilst hunting one day (says a good friend of ours, when 

 we were last in Canada), I came across a Woodchuck * * * 

 with a litter of 6 or 7 young by her side. I leaped from my horse, 



" Quad. N. A., 1849. Vol. I, p. 21. 



