58 WINTER SUNSHINE 



fences, which afford not only convenient lines of 

 communication, but a safe retreat if danger threat 

 ens. He loves to linger ahout the orchard; and, 

 sitting upright on the topmost stone in the wall, or 

 on the tallest stake in the fence, chipping up an 

 apple for the seeds, his tail conforming to the curve 

 of his back, his paws shifting and turning the apple, 

 he is a pretty sight, and his bright, pert appearance 

 atones for all the mischief he does. At home, in 

 the woods, he is the most frolicsome and loquacious. 

 The appearance of anything unusual, if, after con 

 templating it a moment, he concludes it not dan 

 gerous, excites his unbounded mirth and ridicule, 

 and he snickers and chatters, hardly able to contain 

 himself; now darting up the trunk of a tree and 

 squealing in derision, then hopping into position 

 on a limb and dancing to the music of his own 

 cackle, and all for your special benefit. 



There is something very human in this apparent 

 mirth and mockery of the squirrels. It seems to 

 be a sort of ironical laughter, and implies self-con 

 scious pride and exultation in the laugher. "What 

 a ridiculous thing you are, to be sure ! " he seems to 

 say; "how clumsy and awkward, and what a poor 

 show for a tail ! Look at me, look at me ! " and 

 he capers about in his best style. Again, he would 

 seem to tease you and provoke your attention; then 

 suddenly assumes a tone of good-natured, childlike 

 defiance and derision. That pretty little imp, the 

 chipmunk, will sit on the stone above his den and 

 defy you, as plainly as if he said so, to catch him 



