THE WINTER WOODS 159 



" Oh, yes, and live on what they have stored up, like 

 Mice and Squirrels." 



"No," said the Doctor, "the Woodchuck lives- with- 

 out eating, and sleeps so soundly that lie never even 

 feels hungry ; the Ground Squirrels that go into their 

 holes for a time take care to fill their cupboards 

 first." 



" Why don't the Woodchucks starve before spring, 

 or else freeze ? " 



" The fat they have gained in the summer by good 

 living keeps them from doing either, and this fat serves 

 them both for food and fire. Then, too, a Woodchuck 

 is very particular how he puts himself to bed for this 

 winter nap. He does not spread himself out like a 

 windmill and kick off the clothes, as some House 

 Children I know, do, but curls himself up with his 

 nose under his paws so that even his breath is not 

 wasted, but warms his feet like a stove." 



" Do any otlier fourfoots sleep this way ? " 



" The long winter sleep ? Yes, Bears do in cold 

 regions, sometimes not coming out until May. Their 

 little cousins, the Coons, also go in for a while in early 

 winter before there is a good crust on the snow, also 

 the Chipmunk, and many others beside. 



" Even the animals who live on flesh and hunt all 

 through the winter are very particular how they go to 

 sleep in cold weather, usually managing to put their 

 noses on their legs, so that these parts that are thinnest 

 and feel cold soonest shall have the warmth of their 

 breath. The Fox does even more, he spreads his 

 bushy tail to cover his nose, and as you can imagine 

 makes a sort of respirator for himself, for by breathing 



