CHAPTER XXXVI 



GATHERING THE GREAT NUT 

 HARVEST 



N the Leaf - falling - moon, 

 October, the husks began to 

 dry and split, and the nuts 

 to fall of themselves. Then 

 was seen a wild, exciting 

 time, the stirring of habits and impulses 

 laid in the foundations of the race. 



No longer wabbly or vague, as in that 

 first autumn, but fully aroused and domi- 

 nating was the instinct to gather and bury 

 every precious, separate nut. Banner- 

 tail had had to learn slowly and partly 

 by seeing the Redsquirrels making off 

 with the prizes. But he had learned, 

 and his brood had the immediate stimulus 



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