Many noble oak-trees are planted by the little squirrel. Running up
the branches, this little animal strips off the acorns, and buries
them in the ground for food in the cold weather; and when he goes to
hunt them up he does not find all of them. Those he leaves behind
often grow up into great and beautiful trees.
The nuthatch, too, among the birds, is a great planter. After
twisting off a cluster of beech-nuts this queer little bird carries
them to some favorite tree, and pegs them into the crevices of the
bark in a curious way. How, we cannot tell. After a while they fall to
the ground, and there grow into large trees.
[Illustration: {TREES ON THE BANK OF A STREAM.}]
Some larger animals are good seed-planters, and have sometimes covered
barren countries with trees. It is very singular that animals and
birds can do so much farm-work, isn't it?