Woodchuck 427 



feeling confident that I could capture at least one or two of them, 

 but I was mistaken; for the dam, which seemed to anticipate 

 my evil designs, ran round and round the whole of her young 

 'Chucks,' urging them toward a hole beneath a rock, with so 

 much quickness, energy I may call it, that ere I could lay hands 

 on even one of her progeny, she had them all in the hole, into 

 which she then pitched herself, and left me gazing in front of 

 her well-secured retreat, thus baffling all my exertions." 



By the end of August the young Woodchucks are nearly 

 full grown, large enough to think themselves able to care for 

 themselves, and the family breaks up. At least, the larger 

 number scatter to burrow on their own account. 



Audubon and Bachman mention that "when the young are 

 a few months old, they prepare for a separation, and dig a num- 

 ber of holes in the vicinity of their early domicile, some of which 

 are only a few feet deep, and are never occupied. These numer- 

 ous burrows have given rise to the impression that this species 

 lives in communities, which we think is not strictly the case." ^^ 



Throughout the autumn, old and young are busied autumn 

 storing up food, not in warehouses or vaults that robbers might 

 rifle, but in their own skins, as fat, that will keep them doubly 

 warm till absorbed. Their winter nests also are warmly lined 

 and placed far below reach of the frost. 



About the last of September they retire for the season, 

 and all investigations hitherto have proved that sleeping in each 

 winter den there is either a solitary very young one or very old 

 one, or else a pair — possibly the pair of last season, reunited 

 as soon as it was the pleasure of the lady to reunite. 



Exceptional weather may sometimes make the Woodchuck 

 come forth again after its retirement, but the rule is otherwise. 

 The Woodchuck is one of the country folks' 'Seven-sleepers.' 

 Its torpor is indeed profound. Concerning its hibernation 

 Audubon and Bachman write:" 



"We are gratified in being able to communicate the follow- 

 ing facts, related to us by the Hon. Daniel Wadsworth, of 



" hoc. cit., p. 23. " Loc. cit., pp. 20-21. 



