204 FAMILIAR LIFE IN FIELD AND FOREST. 



in tlie woods and fields ; there are evidences of it in 

 every direction when we are strolling through the 

 country highways and byways. It only needs a 

 watchful eye to discern the unmistakable traces of 

 creatures, both great and small, at our feet, within 

 reach of our hands, and over our heads. I do not 

 allude now to the ubiquitous toad, the occasional 

 snake, the familiar squirrel, and the still more famil- 

 iar sparrow : these are always in evidence. But the 

 woodchuck's hole is not far off, if we will look for it 

 the salamander's tracks are traced in the sand around 

 every other stone on the margin of the brook, the 

 marks of the porcupine's teeth are on the corner of 

 the woodshed, the tattooing of the sap sucker deco- 

 rates the trunk of the apple tree, the weasel's home is 

 under the decaying log, the fox leaves feathers and 

 bony relics at the threshold of his burrow, the raccoon 

 leaves his footprints in the muddy margin of the 

 pond, the turtle trails a curious pattern on the sandy 

 shore of the river, and strange paws mark the black 

 mud around the spring in the mountain forest. 



Not only are the homes and haunts of many fa- 

 miliar creatures around about us, but also the evi- 

 dences of many a tragedy. Here, just under the 

 bushes beside the road, is a dead chipmunk ; a glance 

 at the place where his head ought to be is sufficient 

 to identify the murderer ; he was undoubtedly a 



