NATURE'S CALENDAR 



October lo 



should be the special symbol of Arbor 

 Day. 



Much more anxiously busy at this sea- 

 son are the red squirrels, for either they 

 feel their weakness to cope with the fam- 

 ine of the snowy months, or have a greater 

 prudence. This ever active, ever jolly, 

 ever mischievous little rascal does not hi- 

 bernate, and thus do without food, but 

 diligently prepares his home and his larder 

 so that when bad weather comes he may 

 be well provided for. In the Southern 

 States, of course, little such precaution is 

 necessary. There are few days when the 

 weather will not permit him to go abroad, 

 and few places where he cannot get some- 

 thing to eat without taking much trouble 

 to save it up. In the North, however, 

 where the winter weather is long and 

 rigorous, he must be more provident, al- 

 though able to be out most days, no mat- 

 ter how cold. Choosing some cranny in a 

 hollow tree, or, better yet, an old wood- 

 pecker's hole, he fills it full of grass and 

 leaves, thus making a nest in which, 

 wrapped in the rug of his own furry tail, 

 he can defy even Canadian frost. 



"When the summer has grown old," 

 says Merriam, speaking of the Adiron- 

 dacks, " and the mellow days of early 

 autumn cast a glow of color over the 

 sumac and woodbine, the prudent squirrel 

 has commenced to gather the provisions 

 for his winter use. Impatient to make 

 sure of his store, he does not wait for the 



October ii 



