154 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 
cloth or tarred paper. ‘Towards the end of winter, one may 
often see such gnawings on the bases of young trees and 
shrubs in the woods. In maple woods, where porcupines 
run, much bark-stripping is often seen on young trees. 
A large part of the joy of a tramp through winter woods lies 
in being able to interpret these signs and to know what is 
going on. To a naturalist, the woods never seem unin- 
habited; for every path is strewn with the evidences of the 
work and the play, the feasting and the struggles of the 
creatures that dwell therein. 
Study 19. Winter Activities of Wild Animals 
This study is for the time when snow lies an inch or two 
deep upon the ground, and one or more mild winter nights 
have intervened since its fall—such nights as tempt the 
nocturnal mammals to wander from their burrows. Soft 
snow is necessary for the making of distinctive footprints. 
The program of work will consist of a tramp through the 
woods, studying the tracks of birds and mammals, following 
up their trails, determining their direction and speed, the 
cause or purpose of interruptions, etc.; also observing 
evidences of feeding and the nature of their food. 
The record of this study will consist of two separate lists, 
one for the birds and one for the animals of which “signs” are 
discovered, with notes on the kinds of “‘signs,’’ and the activi- 
ties indicated by them, their relative abundance, food, etc. 
Both lists should be illustrated with simple diagrams of 
tracks, with direction and gait (whether walking or running) 
indicated. 
