NUT-CRACKERS AND WOOD-CUTTERS. 83 



14. The American marmot is known generally as the 

 woodchuck, but is called ground-hog in the South and 

 West. It is somewhat larger than its European cousin, 

 but has the same general appearance and habits. It does 

 not live in so large communities, but usually two or more 

 are found together, one of which watches while the others 

 feed. In consequence of a warmer climate, its burrows 

 are less deep than those of its Alpine kin, and its winter 

 nap is not so long. 



CUFF AND THE WOODCHUCK, 



1. I knew a farmer in New York who had a very 

 large bob-tailed churn-dog, by the name of Cuff. The 

 farmer kept a large dairy, and made a great deal of but- 

 ter ; and it was the business of Cuff to spend nearly the 

 half of each summer day treading the endless round of 

 the churning-machine. During the remainder of the day 

 he had plenty of time to sleep and rest, and sit on his 

 hips, and survey the landscape. 



2. One day, sitting thus, he discovered a woodchuck 

 about forty rods from the house, on a steep hill-side, feed- 

 ing about near his hole, which was beneath a large rock. 

 The old dog, forgetting his stiffness, and remembering 

 the fun he had had with the woodchucks in his earlier 

 days, started off at his highest speed, vainly hoping to 

 catch this one before he could get to his hole. But the 

 woodchuck, seeing the dog come laboring up the hill, 

 sprang to the mouth of his den, and, when his pursuer 

 was only a few rods off, whistled tauntingly, and went in. 



3. This occurred several times, the old dog marching 

 up the hill, and then marching down again, having had 

 his labor for his pains. I suspect that he revolved the 

 subject in his mind, while he revolved the great wheel 

 of the churning-machine, and that some turn or other 



