My First Summer 



around the instep of each tree where the 

 squirrels have been feasting ! They get the 

 seeds by cutting off the scales at the base in 

 regular order, following their spiral arrange- 

 ment, and the two seeds at the base of each 

 scale, a hundred or two in a cone, must 

 make a good meal. The yellow pine cones 

 and those of most other species and genera 

 are held upside down on the ground by the 

 Douglas squirrel, and turned around gradu- 

 ally until stripped, while he sits usually 

 with his back to a tree, probably for safety. 

 Strange to say, he never seems to get him- 

 self smeared with gum, not even his paws 

 or whiskers, and how cleanly and beauti- 

 ful in color the cone-litter kitchen-middens 

 he makes. 



We are now approaching the region of 

 clouds and cool streams. Magnificent white 

 cumuli appeared about noon above the Yo- 

 semite region, floating fountains refresh- 

 ing the glorious wilderness, sky moun- 

 tains in whose pearly hills and dales the 



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