40 SQUIRRELS AND OTHER FUR-BEARERS 



no rabbit nor any signs of a rabbit," I replied. 

 He stooped to this dry spot and lifted up a little 

 blanket or carpet of matted dry grass and re- 

 vealed one of the prettiest sights I had ever 

 seen, and the only one of the kind I had ever 

 looked upon! — four or five little rabbits half the 

 size of chipmunks, cuddled down in a dry fur- 

 lined nest. They did not move or wink, and 

 their ears were pressed down close to their 

 heads. My neighbor let the coverlet fall back, 

 and they were hidden again as by magic. 



They had been discovered a few days before 

 when the lawn was mown, and one, as it sprang 

 out from the nest, was killed by the mower, who 

 mistook it for a young rat. The rest of them 

 fled and disappeared through the grass, but the 

 next morning they were back in the nest, where 

 they remained for several days longer. Only at 

 night, so far as was observed, did the mother 

 visit and nurse them. 



There was no opening into the nest, the mat 

 of dried grass covered it completely, so that the 

 mother, in her visits to them, must have lifted it 

 up and crept beneath. It was a very pretty and 

 cunning device. One might have stepped upon 

 it in his walk, but surely his eyes alone would 

 never have penetrated the secret. I am told by 

 men wise in the lore of the fields and woods 



