The Woodchuck 21 



he slowly awoke, but soon fell asleep again because 

 Nature called for a longer nap. 



Let us select a representative woodchuck family 

 and follow in a general way its career, from the time 

 the young are bom until they are safely settled in 

 homes of their own. The cubs usually number four 

 or five, and the date of their birth is not far from 

 the tenth of May. The snug little chamber in which 

 they are bom is located two or three feet under the 

 ground and contains a small cozy bed of dry grass 

 gathered the previous fall. 



By the old rail fence just back of the orchard on 

 my father's farm lived a woodchuck family. The 

 mother introduced herself one bright warm morning 

 in the latter part of May, just as old Rover and I were 

 starting out for a day's fishing. The shrill whistle 

 she gave was enough of a challenge for any boy and 

 dog. So ofF we started full tilt in the direction of 

 the soimd. Of course Rover arrived first on the 

 scene of action, and when I got there he stood thrust- 

 ing his nose in at the entrance of the burrow, wagging 

 his tail vigorously and giving utterance to the short 

 quick yelps so characteristic of a shepherd dog. The 

 burrow gave evidence of constant use, and for a 

 moment my attention was divided between the in- 

 terests of himting and fishing. However, as my game 



