146 The Gray Squirrel 
You walk around a tree on which you saw a squirrel 
a moment before, and you set in motion squirrels about 
you; they move as you move, keeping ever a tree 
trunk or a limb between you and them. If you are 
accustomed to the ways of wood folk, you will sit down 
and keep your eyes and ears open. In the stillness 
you will detect, after a little time, a slight shaking of 
the leaves, or catch a glimpse of a gray shadowy 
coat now flecked by the sun, but almost invisible 
against the moss and bark of the maples. These 
shadows are the squirrels, furtively seeking their 
retreats. You may be resting under a tree in which 
there is a wary old gray squirrel, still some distance 
from his home. Do not for a moment think that he 
will leave the protection of the large ihmb on which 
he is reclining, and expose himself to view. There 
he will lie for hours until, weary in well-watching, you 
leave him that you may seek some less wise one. 
During the remainder of the morning and until late 
afternoon, the squirrels stay in their homes. Then 
they are out again for their evening meal, but without 
the same joyousness with which they greet the dawn. 
An early morning hour with the gray squirrels is 
as fascinating as it is to surprise them upon their 
return from the old orchard. It requires a morning 
with a heavy dew and absolutely without a breeze. 
