Woodchuck 433 



"The old hunter and I sat down on a log and discussed 

 this Woodchuck question in all its many phases. The incident 

 did not surprise him, as it did me." 



I have never seen a Woodchuck up a tree, but I have seen 

 one run along the top of a high rail fence in Muskoka, and am 

 satisfied that Merriam very correctly summarized the case so 

 long ago as i88i : 



"Woodchucks [says he'"], when molested, and particularly 

 during their youthful days, often climb up ten or twelve feet in 

 shrubbery and young trees that abound in low branches, and 

 not infrequently scramble up the trunks of large trees, which 

 have partially fallen or slant sufficiently to insure them against 

 slipping. Occasionally, especially when hard pressed by a 

 fast-approaching enemy, they ascend large erect trees whose 

 lowest branches are some distance from the ground. But, in 

 order to do this, they must take advantage of the impetus of 

 a rush, for they cannot start slowly upon the trunk of an up- 

 right tree and climb more than a few feet without falling. 

 Neither can they stop and go on again before reaching a branch 

 or other resting place." 



In the water, from all accounts, the Woodchuck is far from swim- 

 being at home. It can swim, but poorly; and wisely eschews " 

 the element wherein it is at such a disadvantage. 



So far as I know, it does not even drink; but, like the 

 Rabbit, satisfies its bodily need for liquid with the juices of 

 food-plants, aided, no doubt, by their sprinkUng with rain or 

 de\^'^ 



' Grass and clover are believed to be its favourite foods, food 

 but it will eat almost anything that a pig will eat. I never 

 caught one feeding on flesh, but suspect that, like most rodents, 

 it adds an occasional meat variant to its diet. 



Long after the above was written the following instance 

 was related to me by Ernest O. Leighly, of Hartville, Ohio: 



Last spring he was near an old mill-dam on Henlines's 

 farm, at Bolivar, Tuscarora County, Ohio, when he came on a 



" F. & S, July 7, 1881, p. 453- 



