13*2 MICE IMITATING THE GRASSHOPPER'S CHIRP. 



though I had been but an overhanging tree, I watched and listened 

 attentively. Not many seconds had elapsed before there came another, 

 a second, a third ; but, to sum up, I do not think I shall exceed the 

 limits of truth, if I say that there at length came the thirtieth of these 

 creatures, and all from the same direction, and uttering the same cry as 

 they jumped in their fluttering style one after another over my foot 

 (which rested upon the bank), and then betook themselves to the same 

 path as the leader did. Some of them, however, halted in their career 

 at the sight of my foot, and then it was that I got a correct view of 

 them, and was somewhat surprised to find that the objects of my atten- 

 tion were nothing more or less than mice of a thick bulky form, with 

 blackish backs and light-coloured bellies, and abruptly terminated tails ; 

 but one individual, which I had nearly succeeded in catching, was of 

 a beautiful sleek fawn colour above, and white beneath, and was in 

 every respect an elegant little creature. In a short time they returned 

 from the opposite direction ; and coming out with more caution from 

 their run, as it is termed, they first took a reconnoitring peep, but 

 observing me perfectly motionless they at length collected round my 

 foot to satisfy their curiosity, and were so desirous of removing it (for 

 as it rested upon their run it intercepted their regular course) that two 

 or three of them had actually commenced nibbling the leather of my 

 boot. As fate would have it, however, I sneezed, and thus frightened 

 this interesting group, which in a moment was dispersed in different 

 directions ; yet I still kept my quiet position, not doubting but that in 

 a few minutes, when their fears had subsided, they would again return. 

 It was not long before they did as I expected, but they came in a less 

 regular order, some arriving from one quarter and some from another ; 

 and again they reconnoitred, but as I moved not, they appeared un- 

 apprehensive of danger. They had re-assembled round my boot, when 

 1, who now felt anxious to capture a specimen, dashed my hand among 

 them, endeavouring, but without success, to grasp one. It was with no 

 better effect that I hit about with a stick in every direction in which I 

 heard them running, for the purpose of disabling or killing one as a 

 specimen, that its name might be ascertained. I waited some time after- 

 wards, until it grew dusk ; yet as I neither heard nor saw anything of 

 them subsequently to my attack upon them, I retired from the spot, 

 but well pleased with this singular occurrence. 



SOLITARIUS. 

 July, 1833. 



