UNDER THE MAPLES 



with a glint of gold above them — only a close view 

 of these satisfies one. 



Here is another remarkable transformation 

 among the small wild folk. In the spring he is a 

 dark, slimy, rather forbidding hzard in the pools; 

 now he is more beautiful than the jewel-weed in the 

 woods. This is said to be an immature form, which 

 returns to the ponds and matures the next season; 

 but whether it is the male or the female that as- 

 sumes this bright hue, or both, I do not know. 

 The coat seems to be its midsummer holiday uni- 

 form which is laid aside when it goes back to the 

 marshes to hibernate in the fall. 



Wild creatures so unafraid are sure to have means 

 of protection that do not at once appear. In the 

 case of the newt it is evidently an acrid or other 

 disagreeable secretion, which would cause any 

 animal to repent that took it in its mouth. It is 

 even less concerned at being caught than is the 

 skunk, or porcupine, or stink-bug. 



In my retreat I was unwittingly intruding upon 

 the domain of another sylvan denizen, the chip- 

 munk. One afternoon one suddenly came up from 

 the open field below me with his pockets full of 

 provender of some sort; just what sort I wondered, 

 as there was no grain or seeds or any dry food that 

 it would be safe to store underground for the winter. 



Beholding me sitting there within two yards of 

 his den was a great surprise to him. He eyed me 



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