Page:Early Spring in Massachusetts (1881).djvu/119

Rh, like the walking of a Chinese lady. Very slow; I hardly have to run to keep up with it. It has a long tail which it regularly erects when I come too near, and prepares to discharge its liquid. It is white at the end of the tail, on the hind head, and in a line on the front of the face. The rest black, except the flesh-colored nose (and I think, feet) It tried repeatedly to get into the wall, and did not show much cunning. Finally it steered for an old skunk or woodchuck hole under a wall four rods off and got into it, or under the wall, at least, for the hole was stopped up. There I could view it closely and at leisure. It has a remarkably long, narrow, pointed head and snout which enable it to make those deep narrow holes in the earth by which it probes for insects. Its eyes are bluish-black, and have an innocent, child-like expression. It made a singular loud patting -sound repeatedly on the frozen ground under the wall, undoubtedly with its fore feet. (I saw only the upper part of the animal.) Probably it has to do with getting its food, patting the earth to get the insects or worms, though why if did so then, I know not. Its track was small and round, showing the nails; a little less than an inch in diameter. Its steps alternate, five or six inches by two or two and a half, sometimes two feet together. There is