142 The Gray Squirrel 
acquainted with the gray squirrel family as a whole. 
It is at this time that the old and the young may be 
seen early in the morning coming from the hard wood 
grove, along the old rail fence to the butternut trees 
at the foot of the garden. If you are on the watch, 
you may observe the silent troop galloping along 
with their beautiful tails well arched, and mounting 
the trees more like shadows than like wearers of 
fur. The frost has not yet loosened the nuts, but the 
squirrels are not daunted; speedily securing nuts, they 
sit upon the limbs with their tails over their backs, 
and, holding the nuts between their paws, quickly 
enaw through the velvety covering and shuck to the 
juicy meat inside. Within an hour they go galloping 
back as though they had already stayed too long, 
silent as when they came; but if you do not see them, 
the telltale shucks will disclose who your visitors 
have been. 
The old butternut trees must soon share with the 
cornfield their attraction for the squirrels. It was the 
raccoons who first discovered that green corn was in 
season, but the squirrels claim their part, and on 
some fence rail or post you may find a daintily stripped 
cob, left there as a reminder that the squirrels too are 
to share in the increase. Better still, perchance, you 
may wander by and surprise the reveler at his feast. 
