The Woodchuck 25 
A part of this wisdom came through copying their 
mother, but by far the greater part came through 
instinct and through experiences of their own. They 
learned which grass was good for food, which for 
medicine, and which was not to be touched at all. 
Some attention was given to the art of climbing, 
for from elevated positions they could command as 
much more extended view of meadow and wood- 
land—yes, woodchucks really climb fences and small 
trees! and I found it extremely entertaining to 
watch their clumsy first attempts. This lesson in 
climbing, however, might sometimes be omitted, 
but never a day passed that the little woodchucks 
did not receive a lesson in danger signals. They soon 
learned to distinguish, among the many sounds that 
came to their ears, those that threatened harm and 
danger from those that meant no harm at all. Al- 
though Bob from the next farm nearly caught one 
of the little fellows, they learned that a dog was not 
a very dangerous foe, as his presence was usually 
made known while he was some distance off; but 
when a fox was in the vicinity—then was the time 
to be wary indeed! 
By the middle of August the little cubs were pretty 
nearly grown-up woodchucks, and the time was fast 
approaching when the frolicsome days of babyhood 
