21 IRocfcB IRoa&st&e 



to me of the weed-hidden fences that for years have 

 had no caretaker except the strong briers that 

 bravely uphold all the weaker panels. Such fences 

 are the homes of many a small mammal, squirrel, 

 weasel, and dainty deer-mouse, and the loud excla- 

 mation of the sharp-eyed botanist showed this 

 was true of the stone-walls also. As a flash of 

 lightning a red squirrel darted by, and a weasel 

 followed, a close second in the race. The result 

 is a matter of little doubt, for the weasel is still 

 fresh when the squirrel is exhausted, and there are 

 few places that it can reach, where trees are want- 

 ing, whereto a weasel cannot follow. Later we 

 found where a vesper-mouse had been eating some 

 large seeds, leaving a little pile of chips, about 

 which a grim, gray spider had woven a tough web. 

 This was funnel-shaped, and directed downwards to 

 a dark crevice between two stones. We caught flies 

 and one small beetle, and tossed them in; but 

 their struggles did not tempt the crafty hermitess 

 from her den; or, what is more probable, she saw 

 us, and was suspicious. Outdoor spiders are ex- 

 tremely cunning. I think they have all the wisdom 

 of the ant, and some mental traits of value in ad- 

 dition. I have not found them cowards, but dis- 

 creet. They do not pretend to be a match for all 

 comers, but rather very judiciously exercise their 

 wits. It needs but scanty observation to be con- 

 vinced of this, provided, of course, we take up the 

 subject without preconceptions. Nothing so 

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