252 



FAMILIAR LIFE IN FIELD AND FOREST. 



In September the woodchuck sits by bis hole the 

 perfect image of listlessness ; be is as absolutely mo- 

 tionless as a " bump on a log." Possibly he medi- 

 tates upon the changing aspect of Nature, at any rate 

 he does not move a muscle, and it is doubtful whether 

 his mind works. ^^ Approach him never so 



silently and ^^^^ cautiously and he pops 



in without a prelimi- 

 nary movement. On 

 one occasion, though, 

 U^ I did actually see 

 \ I him change his po- 

 '^^ sition before he dis- 

 IP" appeared. At first 

 he was upright, then 

 on my nearer ap- 

 proach he dropped 

 horizontally, and when 

 I got to within ten feet of him he was gone. Pres- 

 ently I took a harmonicon from my pocket and 

 played softly upon it ; being highly susceptible to 

 the sweet influences of music he reappeared at his 

 doorstep, and, with a slight expression of disturbance 

 on his usually dull countenance, eyed me with some 

 curiosity and disapproval. I imagined if he pos- 

 sessed the power of speech he would have said, 

 " This may be quite a clever performance, sir, but 



' Thp perfect image o£ listlessness." 



