WHEN THE SNOW CAME 



winter and these have sent the cotton- 

 tail to the seclusion of his burrow, where 

 he lacks the health-giving warmth of the 

 sun, it is true, but where he is snug and 

 comfortable beneath the frost line. Like 

 the rabbit most of the wild creatures of 

 the wood seem to endure the snow with 

 cheerful philosophy, but I am convinced 

 that few of them like it. It hides their 

 food from them, and if it is deep or a 

 strong crust makes its surface difficult of 

 penetration its long-continued presence 

 mean short rations or even starvation 

 and death. The squirrels have some 

 stores within hollow trunks and these are 

 available at any season, but much of 

 their winter food is buried helter-skelter 

 beneath brown leaves and too deep snow 

 shuts them off from it. The fox must 

 range farther and pounce more surely, 

 for the field mice which are his bread 



