20 WOOU-CHUCK OR GROUND-HOG. 



although a little strong, and is frequently purchased by the humbler 

 classes of people, who cook it like a roasting pig. Occasionally, and espe- 

 cially in autumn, it is exceedingly fat. 



This species becomes torpid about the time the leaves have fallen 

 from the trees in the autumn, and the frosty air gives notice of the 

 approach of winter ; and remains burrowed in the earth until the grass 

 has sprung up and the genial warmth of spring invites it to come forth. 



We once observed one sunning itself at the mouth of its burrow, on the 

 23d of October, in the State of New- York ; and in the same State, saw one 

 killed by a dog on the first of March, when the winter's snow was yet 

 lying in patches on the ground. 



Where the nature of the country wll admit of it, the Wood-Chucks se- 

 lect a projecting rock, in some fissure under ■which, they can dig their bur- 

 rows. In other localities they dig them on the sides of hills, or in places 

 where the surface of the ground is nearly level. These burrows or exca- 

 vations are sometimes extended to the length of twenty or thirty feet from 

 the opening ; for the first three or four feet inclining obliquely downward, 

 and the gallery being continued farther on, about on a level, or with a slight 

 inclination upward to its termination, where there is a large round chamber, 

 to which the occupants retire for rest and security, in which the female gives 

 birth to her young, and where the family spends the winter in torpidity. 



Concerning this latter most singular state of existence, we are grati- 

 fied in being able to communicate the following facts, related to us by the 

 Hon. Daniel Wadsworth, of Hartford, Connecticut. "I kept," said he to us, 

 " a fine Wood-Chuck in captivity, in this house, for upwards of two years. 

 It was brought to me by a country lad, and was then large, rather wild, 

 and somewhat cross and mischievous ; being placed in the kitchen, it 

 soon found a retreat, in which it remained concealed the greater part of 

 its time every day. During several nights it attempted to escape by 

 gnawing the door and w^indow-sills ; gradually it became more quiet, and 

 sufiered itself to be approached by the inmates of the kitchen, these 

 being the cook, a fine dog, and a cat ; so that ere many months had elapsed, 

 it \vould lie on the floor near the fire, in company with the dog, and would 

 take food from the hand of the cook. I now began to take a particular 

 interest in its welfare, and had a large box made for its use, and filled 

 with hay, to which it became habituated, and always retired when in- 

 clined to repose. Winter coming on, the box was placed in a warm 

 comer, and the Wood-Chuck went into it, arranged its bed with care, 

 and became torpid. Some six weeks having passed without its appear- 

 ing, or having received any food ; I had it taken out of the box, and 

 brought into the parlour ; — it was inanimate, and as round as a ball, its 



