WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



made a hole under the pile, and was backing 

 out again with the walnut in his mouth. 

 There and then he sat up, and while the owner 

 slept happily in the nest he took it in his paws 

 and nibbled away at it until it was all gone. 

 All her labour had been thrown away ! 



I do not think these mice really minded very 

 much when their hoards were taken. They 

 had more food than they could eat and their 

 memories were not very good, so the things 

 they had buried were soon forgotten, and in the 

 case of corn, unless dug up by chance, was 

 left until it sprouted. Of course in a wild 

 state hunger might prompt their memories, 

 for in the winter the wee creatures of the 

 countryside are often hard pressed for anything 

 to eat. In the autumn most of the mice lay 

 by stores in their tunnels to provide against the 

 bad times of winter. No mouse works harder 

 at this than the bank vole ; anything it does 

 not want at the moment is carried home 

 berries, nuts, and grain are hidden in the holes. 

 How hard it will work was shown when I 

 dropped a handful of barley into the cage 

 where my voles lived. One of them soon 

 came out, sniffed at the grain, picked up a 

 mouthful and carried it off. In fifteen minutes 

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