The woodchuck seems to be a link between the rabbit and badger; its colour is that of a leveret; it climbs like the racoon and burrows like the rabbit; its eyes are large, full, and dark, the lip cleft, the soles of the feet naked, claws sharp, ears short; it feeds on grasses, grain, fruit, and berries.

The flesh is white, oily, and, in the summer, rank, but is eaten in the fall by the Indians and woodsmen; the skin is not much valued.

They are easily killed by dogs, though, being expert climbers, they often baffle their enemies, clinging to the bark beyond their reach; a stone or stick well-aimed soon kills them, but they often bite sharply.
The woodchuck proved a providential supply, and Hector cheered his companions with the assurance that they could not starve, as there were plenty of these creatures to be found.

They had seen one or two about the Cold Springs, but they are less common in the deep forest lands than on the drier, more open plains.
"It is a great pity we have no larger vessel to bring our water from the spring in," said Hector, looking at the tin-pot, "one is so apt to stumble among stones and tangled underwood.

If we had only one of our old bark dishes we could get a good supply at once." "There is a fallen birch not far from this," said Louis; "I have here my trusty knife; what is there to hinder us from manufacturing a vessel capable of holding water, a gallon if you like ?" "How can you sew it together, cousin ?" asked Catharine; "you have neither deer sinews, nor war-tap." _[The Indian name for the flexible roots of the tamarack, or swamp larch, which they make use of in manufacturing the birch baskets and canoes.]_ "I have a substitute at hand, ma belle," and Louis pointed to the strips of leatherwood that he had collected for binding the dressings on his cousin's foot.
When an idea once struck Louis, he never rested till he worked it out in some way.