The Story of a Graysquirrel 



is lined with soft grass, feathers, and 

 wool becomes a swarming hive. Banner- 

 tail's farm upbringing had made him all 

 too familiar with feathers and wool. His 

 contribution to the home furnishing had 

 been of the kind that guaranteed a para- 

 sitic scourge. This thing he had not 

 learned — for it is instilled by the smell 

 of their mother nest — cedar bark and 

 sassafras leaves, with their pungent oils, 

 are needed to keep the irritating vermin 

 swarm away. And Silvergray, was she 

 at fault ? Only in this, the purifying bark 

 and leaves were scarce. She was weak 

 compared with Bannertail. His contri- 

 butions had so far outpointed hers that 

 the nest had become unbearable. Their 

 only course was to abandon it. 



[115] 



