The Squirrel's Thrift, and How 

 it was Learned 



ONE of the poetic and pleasing incidents 

 of autumn in the woods is the eager 

 industry of the squirrels in gathering 

 and carrying to their habitations quantities of 

 nuts, acorns, rose-hips, grains of corn, and 

 other dainties. We say they are " storing 

 food " for the winter, and we know that the 

 mice beneath the meadow grass, the beaver in 

 his forest-girt pond, the weasel within the stone 

 wall, and now and then a woodpecker or jay, 

 are taking similar precautions against a com- 

 ing season of scarcity. 



The poets and moralists long ago took this 

 incident to heart, more or less incorrectly ; but, 

 so far as I can recall, the philosopher has not 

 considered it, nor offered any explanation of 

 what is in reality a remarkable phenomenon. 



