Davis: NatTurAL History REcoRDS 157 
He feeds in early morning, may on occasions be seen sunning 
himself at noon and once again, late in the afternoon, he comes 
abroad and feeds heartily till sunset when he descends for the 
night. He is not nocturnal and probably sleeps soundly till sun- 
rise. This I have frequently tested by scattering light ashes and 
sand about the various entrances to his burrow, but there were 
never any tracks to show activity by night. 
I do not believe that as a usual thing the woodchuck goes farther 
from his den to feed than necessary, and I found in most cases 
that the various entrances were connected with well beaten paths 
not extending far afield, which would indicate this habit. But 
when the grass 1s high and affords shelter he will slip about farther 
from home, passing from clover clump to clover clump, and if near 
the garden will even nibble the tender inside of cabbages, strip 
the leaves from the young bean plants, or feed on the succulent 
early corn. In autumn he seeks a nearby orchard, for he is fond 
of apples, pears, or sweet fruit of any kind, and it is here where 
he is most commonly caught in the open, sitting bolt upright from: 
time to time to look about him. 
His attitude toward his enemies is one of obstinate defiance, and 
when cornered he shows plenty of pluck. When pursued he 
scrambles in frantic haste for his burrow, his black heels twink- 
ling as he goes, and before his final disappearance is apt to turn 
and chatter defiance. 
During the summer months I frequently came across little wood- 
chucks only a few weeks old, wandering about the fields all alone 
and unprotected. Their parents seem to be utterly lacking in 
family instinct in this respect, driving the young ones from home 
to shift for themselves as soon as weaned. 
I have often caught these little chuckies, chiefly to protect them 
from my dogs, but they are terrible biters and will charge at any 
one attempting to molest them. When finally convinced that re- 
sistance is useless, however, the little creatures will crouch in the 
erass and begin to tremble and shake all over and surrender com- 
pletely. 
Attention was also called to the woodchuck of the forest that 
may be seen scampering over fallen tree trunks and through dense 
underbtush, where he feeds for the most part on berries when in 
season and on tender growths and roots. 
Personally I feel a deep sympathy for all wild creatures, and 
