ANIMAL LIFE IN THE WOODS 177 



occurs from New England to Minnesota. It is a little larger 

 than the cottontail. During the summer its fur is brown, 

 but becomes white in winter. 



On our Western prairies occurs the Jack Rabbit, or Prairie 

 Hare (Lepus oampestris). It is the largest of our American 

 hares. The cottontail rabbit is also a true hare. Jack 

 Eabbits are yellowish-gray in summer and white in winter. 

 Of what benefit may such change of color be to the animal ? 



Some time ago, when we studied the grasses, we learned 

 what an important place these plants occupied in the 

 economy of nature. We have recently studied several rep- 

 resentatives of a very important and widely distributed 

 animal family, the Rodents or Gnawers. The hare belongs 

 to the larger rodents ; the largest North American rodent is 

 the Beaver. Rodents are found in all countries and in all 

 zones. Most of them, as you know, are small, like gophers, 

 rats, and mice. To the rodents belong also the different 

 kinds of Gophers, the Muskrat, the Woodchuck, and the 

 Porcupine. Some of these animals we shall study later. 

 In the meantime, observe the rodents as much as you can, 

 and try to find out in what respect they are important in 

 nature's economy. You have learned that most of them 

 are small and rather defenceless; nevertheless they are 

 very numerous as individuals, and are also in species the 

 largest family among mammals. How do they hold their 

 own against hosts of enemies ? 



21. The Underbrush. 



MATERIAL : Twigs, sprays, flowers, and fruit of a number of shrubs, 

 vines, and small trees. Names of species are not very important for 

 this lesson. 



All the trees are now in full foliage and protect the 

 ground from the rays of the summer sun. It would not be 

 possible to raise a crop of wheat or potatoes on ground 



N 



