A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



cabin. The roof is warm and makes an ideal 

 playground for the little ones. Here they 

 race and romp until daylight, when the 

 mother-mouse puts them to bed for the day. 

 Soon after I hear the mice on the roof, early 

 " wwe. ooud * n ^ e evenm g> the old mouse comes down to 



Mou3 " see if food and water are on hand. If she 

 finds things all right, she takes a drink and 

 then calls her family down. As near as I 

 can make it out, she drums three rolls, a 

 long roll between two short rolls. Anyhow, 

 the young mice understand, and scamper down 

 and drink and eat, after a harum-scarum 

 fashion. The old mouse drums to me if there 

 is no water in the dish. The young mice must 

 hear this drumming, but pay no attention to 

 it, which proves that they understand the 

 different calls. The old mouse drums on the 

 tin wash-dish, and her claws make a sound 

 that rings out loud and clear. She drums 

 first the long roll to attract my attention, and 

 then drums the water-call. If food is wanted, 

 she drums the food-call after attracting at- 

 tention. 



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