142 The Gray Squirrel 



acquainted with the gray squirrel family as a whole. 

 It is at this time that the old and the young may be 

 seen early in the morning coming from the hard wood 

 grove, along the old rail fence to the butternut trees 

 at the foot of the garden. If you are on the watch, 

 you may observe the silent troop galloping along 

 with their beautiful tails well arched, and mounting 

 the trees more like shadows than like wearers of 

 fur. The frost has not yet loosened the nuts, but the 

 squirrels are not daunted; speedily securing nuts, they 

 sit upon the limbs with their tails over their backs, 

 and, holding the nuts between their paws, quickly 

 gnaw through the velvety covering and shuck to the 

 juicy meat inside. Within an hour they go galloping 

 back as though they had already stayed too long, 

 silent as when they came; but if you do not see them, 

 the telltale shucks will disclose who your visitors 

 have been. 



The old butternut trees must soon share with the 

 cornfield their attraction for the squirrels. It was the 

 raccoons who first discovered that green corn was in 

 season, but the squirrels claim their part, and on 

 some fence rail or post you may find a daintily stripped 

 cob, left there as a reminder that the squirrels too are 

 to share in the increase. Better still, perchance, you 

 may wander by and surprise the reveler at his feast. 



