154 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 



cloth or tarred paper. Towards the end of winter, one may 

 often see such gnawings on the bases of young trees and 

 shrubs in the woods. In maple woods, where porcupines 

 run, much bark-stripping is often seen on young trees. 



A large part of the joy of a tramp through winter woods lies 

 in being able to interpret these signs and to know what is 

 going on. To a naturalist, the woods never seem unin- 

 habited; for every path is strewn with the evidences of the 

 work and the play, the feasting and the struggles of the 

 creatures that dwell therein. 



Study 19. Winter Activities of Wild Animals 



This study is for the time when snow lies an inch or two 

 deep upon the ground, and one or more mild winter nights 

 have intervened since its fall such nights as tempt the 

 nocturnal mammals to wander from their burrows. Soft 

 snow is necessary for the making of distinctive footprints. 



The program of work will consist of a tramp through the 

 woods, studying the tracks of birds and mammals, following 

 up their trails, determining their direction and speed, the 

 cause or purpose of interruptions, etc.; also observing 

 evidences of feeding and the nature of their food. 



The record of this study will consist of two separate lists, 

 one for the birds and one for the animals of which ' 'signs" are 

 discovered, with notes on the kinds of "signs," and the activi- 

 ties indicated by them, their relative abundance, food, etc. 

 Both lists should be illustrated with simple diagrams of 

 tracks, with direction and gait (whether walking or running) 

 indicated. 



