THE POND AT LOW TIDE 



he came to the water. Probably he too 

 knows how toothsome are the unios and 

 is searching for them in his maudlin 

 fashion. 



Then there are the muskrats. They 

 do not have to wait for their clam ban- 

 quets till the water is low. They are 

 expert divers and gather the unios at 

 such times as suit their fancy. You will 

 see their tracks in regular runways in 

 the shallow water of the muddy coves, 

 whence they are apt to follow some 

 trickling streamlet to the bank where the 

 summer burrow r s are at high water. 



Later, along the marshy edges you will 

 find their winter teepees, piled to conical 

 heights with sods and roots, with a 

 warm refuge above the ice and an exit 

 below, whence they may swim in search 

 of food. The tracks of the muskrats 

 show every mark of the industrious vil- 

 199 



