about the four or five little ones which arrive each spring and after 

 only a few weeks are pushed out of the nest as a hint that they are 

 now to shift for themselves, but who often fall an easy prey to their 

 indifferent parents' own arch foe, the wily fox. 



The burrow once done, the "ground hog" proves himself true 

 to his second title by henceforth making it his sole care to eat all 

 summer long with occasional short excursions to a nearby orchard, 

 or possibly garden, to vary his diet. Sometimes, when -surprised 

 or when feeding, he will assume the quick upright posture so char- 

 acteristic of the squirrels, 'but for the most part he is awkward and 

 clumsy in both movements and gait. The height of his ambition 

 now is to see how much fat he can grow, to last him while he sleeps 

 away the cold winter days in his burrow. 



205 



