CHAPTEE XV. 



A SEMIANNUAL SLEEPER AND A NIGHTLY 

 PROWLER. 



The Woodchuck and Porcupine. 



If one could shake a red and a gray squirrel to- 

 gether in a bag until they merged into one individual 

 with a coat neither red nor gray, then blow the thing 

 up with the bellows into 

 thrice its former size, 

 jam the face togeth- 

 er, trim down the 

 ears, enlarge 

 the paws, 

 chop off half -^l! . 



the tail, and finish " ' Tbewoldchucr 



by knocking just half 



the life out of it, one would have a fair imitation 

 of the woodchuck or marmot {Arctomys monax)* 

 that grave and indefatigable old burrower who in- 

 habits the field on every farm in the country — or 



* His Indian name is Wenusk. 



245 



