140 SQUIRRELS AND OTHER FUR-BEARERS 



of fear, but of shame and guilt. He seems to 

 diminish in size and to be overwhelmed with 

 humiliation. Does he know himself to be an 

 old thief, and is that the reason of his embarrass- 

 ment? The fox has no enemies but man, and 

 when he is fairly outwitted he looks the shame 

 he evidently feels. 



In the heart of the rabbit fear constantly 

 abides. How her eyes protrude! She can see 

 back and forward and on all sides as well as a 

 bird. The fox is after her, the owls are after 

 her, the gunners are after her, and she has no 

 defense but her speed. She always keeps well to 

 cover. The northern hare keeps in the thickest 

 brush. If the hare or rabbit crosses a broad open 

 exposure it does so hurriedly, like a mouse when 

 it crosses the road. The mouse is in danger of 

 being pounced upon by a hawk, and the hare or 

 rabbit by the snowy owl, or else the great horned 

 owl. 



A friend of mine was following one morning 

 a fresh rabbit track through an open field. Sud- 

 denly the track came to an end, as if the creature 

 had taken wings, — as it had after an unpleasant 

 fashion. There, on either side of its last foot 

 imprint, were several parallel lines in the snow, 

 made by the wings of the great owl that had 

 swooped down and carried it off. What a little 



