8 SQUIRRELS AND OTHER FUR-BEARERS 



How much his presence adds to the pleasure of 

 a saunter in the still October woods. You step 

 lightly across the threshold of the forest, and 

 sit down upon the first log or rock to await the 

 signals. It is so still that the ear suddenly seems 

 to have acquired new powers, and there is no 

 movement to confuse the eye. Presently you 

 hear the rustling of a branch, and see it sway or 

 spring as the squirrel leaps from or to it; or 

 else you hear a disturbance in the dry leaves, 

 and mark one running upon the ground. He 

 has probably seen the intruder, and, not liking 

 his stealthy movements, desires to avoid a nearer 

 acquaintance. Now he mounts a stump to see 

 if the way is clear, then pauses a moment at the 

 foot of a tree to take his bearings, his tail as he 

 skims along undulating behind him, and adding 

 to the easy grace and dignity of his movements. 

 Or else you are first advised of his proximity by 

 the dropping of a false nut, or the fragments of 

 the shucks rattling upon the leaves. Or, again, 

 after contemplating you a while unobserved, and 

 making up his mind that you are not dangerous, 

 he strikes an attitude on a branch, and commences 

 to quack and bark, with an accompanying move- 

 ment of his tail. Late in the afternoon, when 

 the same stillness reigns, the same scenes are 

 repeated. There is a black variety, quite rare, 



