THE HAYMAKER OF THE HEIGHTS 23 



as sheltered a spot as possible. Rocky cut and 

 stacked his hay during September, then early 

 October I saw him carrying it underground. 



These cony haystacks were of several sizes 

 and many shapes. The average one was small- 

 er than a bushel basket. I have seen a few 

 that contained twice or even three times the 

 contents of a bushel. 



There were rounded haystacks, long and nar- 

 row ones, and others of angular shape. But few 

 were of good form, and the average stack had the 

 appearance of a wind-blown trash pile, or a mere 

 heap of dropped hay. Invariably the stack was 

 placed between or to the leeward of rocks; evi- 

 dently for wind protection. 



One stack in a place was the custom. But 

 a number of times I have seen two, four, and 

 once five stacks in collection. Near each stack 

 collection was an equal number of entrances to 

 cony dens. 



But little is known concerning the family 

 life of the cony. Nor do I know how long the 

 average cony lives. A prospector in the San 

 Juan Mountains saw a cony frequently through 

 four years. I had glimpses of Rocky a few times 

 each year for three years. During the second 

 summer one of his ears was torn and the slit never 

 united. Just how this happened I do not know. 



All conies that I saw making hay were working 



