482 



REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



the 14th of that month after the severe early frost of 1906 ; but 

 I have never seen them as late as November, although it is possible 

 that a few may venture out in the sunshine of that month. I do 

 not know that they ever appear as early as February 2, which is 

 popularly styled "ground-hog day." Before the end of February, 

 however, they usually begin to clean , out and enlarge their burrows 

 or dig new ones. 



After they once venture out, snow and cold do not drive them 

 back to winter quarters, and their tracks may often be seen in the 

 deep snow that sometimes falls in ^larch. At such times they sub- 

 sist largely on tender twigs and young trees. This food could be 

 obtained by them thrcmghout the winter, as well as by the rabbits, 

 who find it ample for their winter diet. The hibernation of the 

 woodchuck, then, can not be looked upon as an adaptation* neces- 

 sary for the animal's existence. It is rather a physiological pecu- 

 liarity which may possess advantages, but which does not have se- 

 lective value. 



Even during the summer the greater part of the time is spent 

 in sleep. Except during the breeding season these animals are 

 usually active only for ])rief periods two or three times a day. The 

 rest of their existence is spent within their burrow, presumably in 

 sleep. It is easy to see how a creature with such a vegetative ex- 

 istence could ac(iuire the habit of prolonged sleep after it has 

 stored up a large quantity of fat, though it is not so easy to see 

 why some of the leaner animals do not waken in December or Jan- 

 uary, and I have never known such a thing to occur. 



It is said that a hibernating woodchuck cannot be dug out un- 

 less by accident or by excavating a large area about his den, be- 

 cause he plugs the passage into which he crawls with dirt so tightly 

 that it cannot be found. When pursued into his den during the 

 season of activity, he also fills the passages so that he cannot be 

 readily found, and at such times he can also extend his burrow very 

 rapidly. 



The food of the woodchuck is quite varied. Tender clover and 

 ripe ai)i)les are favorite articles of diet. But many kinds of grasses 

 twigs, leaves, stems and vegetables are eaten at times. I once cap- 

 tured one of these animals in a sassafras tree and, on examination, 

 found its stomach gorged with sassafras leaves. 



The animals that live in the fiehis seldom forage far from home. 

 The den is located in a ))la('e con veiiient to feeding grounds. The 

 owner comes out early in the morning, stoj)])ing near the door of 

 his hoHjc to rise up on his haunches and surv^ev the horizon for pos- 



