250 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



Examining the bark, I found the tree a mere shell, the bark 



being cracked and 



making an open 



light, at a depth 



expected sight. 



footed 



asleep. 



the open 



sponse 



a w a k 



a cloth 



her in 



one of 



part of 



easily removed with my fingers. On 

 ing sufiiciently large to admit the 

 of six inches there appeared an un- 

 There lay a fat-looking, white- 

 mouse, curled up and apparently fast 

 I ventured putting my fingers into 

 ing and touched the mouse. Xo re- 

 came from her at first, but she soon 

 ened from her slumbers. I then stuffed 

 carefully in the opening and held 

 until I finally persuaded her to enter 

 the small rouiid cages which formed a 

 my field equi{)ment. Placing the cage 

 with its treasure within my satchel for 

 further study, I next examined the nest 

 with care. To my surprise, I found 

 in the bottom a dead house wren. 

 Its body was curled around in such a 

 way that it lay i)erfectly flat and 

 served as a bed upon which the mouse 

 had rested. On removing the bird's 

 body to the light, it was found 

 that nearly half of the skull was de- 

 tatched and completely cleaned of 

 all flesh. There were incriminating 

 evidences of mice teeth having 

 gnawed the bones of the skull. No 

 other part of the bird's anatomy had 

 been eaten, and the flesh was so fresh 

 that it had not yet imdergone pu- 

 trefaction. Not until the night of 

 the same day was there indication 

 of this change. The idea gained 

 from these facts was that the bird 

 had been killed quite recently. Underneath the bird's body 

 and occupying the bottom layer, a number of coarse, short 

 twigs had been fleposited by the bird, which were doubtless 

 only the beginning of her nest. 



The White-Footed Mouse in the 



Wren's nest as she appeared 



after removing the hark. 



