A MARCH RAMBLE. 21 



of its nose to the surface and appears to nibble at 

 the water. How different it is from the common 

 red or gray squirrel. Its tail, the peculiar longi- 

 tudinal stripes, the motions, the shorter feet, and 

 even the trail it leaves behind it in the snow, tells 

 you that it belongs to another genus in the family 

 of rodents. 



It is not a great climber, rarely ascending tall 

 trees; yet it likes fresh food in the early spring, 

 and is out to see how the buds on the red maples 

 are getting on. 



The thorn-like buds on the beech saplings are 

 larger and farther advanced than those of the older 

 trees. Is this owing to the impetuous sap of 

 youth ? On the terminal bud of a shell-bark hick- 

 ory I count fourteen wraps before the tender baby 

 leaves are laid bare. What wise provision has 

 been made for these infants, and how admirably 

 adapted to temper the rapid changes of air are 

 these coverings, each one as impervious to the 

 moisture as a rubber blanket, and thickly covered 

 on the outside with the finest sUky floss. 



When did the blossom buds of the swamp maples 

 expand ? They were not noticed five days ago ! 

 The large terminal buds of the horse-chestnut, too, 

 are covered with a coat of varnish, as if Nature's 



