Page:Babyhood of Wild Beasts.djvu/115

Rh played to their hearts' fill in the warm yellow sunlight. Then they crawled back into their snug, under-ground home, so tired they could scarcely drag their fat, brown bodies along. How cosy the nest was, and what a lovely place to sleep in!

During those soft warm days the little fellows grew with amazing rapidity. They increased in size and strength and developed their accomplishments to such an extent that it was truly amazing. They were as playful as kittens. They rolled, wrestled and tumbled about for hours at a time, developing their muscles and strengthening themselves mentally and physically for the battle of life.

It wasn't long before they dug little play houses. The digging developed their powerful claws, and strong legs and paws. Their toes are partially webbed and they make fine shovels for the purpose of shovelling the dust while burrowing. They stop, back out, during their work and kick the dust back vigorously until they have swept all the dirt to the entrance of the hole and have sent it flying outward. Our Woodchucks shut their furry ears so tight that they are dust-proof while