BISMARCK, THE RED SQUIRREL 



each nut one at a time to the clear side 

 before dropping it. Could human intelligence 

 do more? 



When Bismarck and his mate had stowed 

 away food enough for winter, they made a 

 winter nest in the pine-tree that grew above 

 the storehouse. In the new nest the whole 

 family passed the winter after the manner 

 of red squirrels. 



The two baby squirrels for the most of the 

 harvest-time remained in the nest or on the 

 hemlock-tree in which the nest was located. 

 Now and then they followed the mother to 

 a nut-tree, but were so noisy that I imagine 

 the fear of enemies caused the discreet mother 

 to drive them home. 



When the family storehouse was well filled, 

 Bismarck stored a few nuts in the hole at the 

 cabin. I think he would have stored more if 

 it had not been for the alert wood-mice. He 

 hid a great many nuts around boulders and 

 trees. These nuts were used in the winter, 

 and often lasted until late in the spring. In 

 the spring, when the nuts started to grow, 

 87 



