he will come down the trunk, head foremost, 

 moving mechanically with little jerks, as though 

 pulled by a string, his hind legs stretched straight 

 out above him. Down almost to the ground he 

 comes, holding himself well out from the tree and 

 eyeing you inquisitively. Suddenly he turns and 

 scurries up the tree, chippering volubly meanwhile, 

 to rush out on a limb and continue the denuncia- 

 tion, adding emphasis with his tail with which 

 he seems to gesticulate. 



There is no merrier sight in the woods than a 

 pair of gray squirrels in a frisky mood ; it is unmis- 

 takable fun. The gray is averse to the coniferous 

 woods and the red prefers them; thus each has 

 its territory. Apparently the red is more self-con- 

 tained and readily amuses himself. He is of a 

 more caustic mood; his fun is not so childlike 

 and guileless. Nor is he himself, for there is a 

 dark streak in his make-up, a certain taint in his 

 disposition and always a satirical note in his 

 laughter among the tree tops. 



Eight inches or more of snow, and a hard crust, 

 and it becomes poor pickings for the wild things. 

 Here and there are holes where the gray squirrel 

 has been prospering. Near by, in most cases, lies 



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