UNDER THE APPLE-TREES 
after I had cracked a few of them and had thus given 
him a taste of what was in them, he began to carry 
them to his den. 
It is interesting to see how well these wild crea- 
tures are groomed — every hair in its place and 
shining as if it had just been polished. The tail of 
my chipmunk is simply perfect — not a hair missing 
or soiled or worn. In fact, the whole animal looks as 
new and fresh as a coin just minted, or a flower just 
opened. His underground habits leave no mark or 
stain upon him, and his daily labors do not ruffle a 
hair. This is true of nearly all the wild creatures, 
Domestication changes all this; domestic animals 
become dirty and unkempt. The half-tame gray 
squirrels in the parks have little of the wild grace and 
beauty of the squirrels in the woods. Especially do 
their tails deteriorate, and their sylvan airiness and 
delicacy disappear. 
The whole character of the squirrel culminates 
and finds expression in its tail — all its nervous rest- 
lessness and wild beauty, all its jauntiness, archness, 
and suspicion, and every change of emotion, seem 
to ripple out along this appendage. 
How furtive and nervous my chipmunk is, rush- 
ing about by little jerks incessantly, not stopping 
for anything! His bright, unwinking eyes, his pal- 
pitating body, his sudden spasmodic movements, 
his eagerness, his industry, his sleekness and clean- 
liness — what a picture he makes! Apparently he 
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