WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



This being so, it may be asked how I managed 

 to get the mice which I kept for some time to 

 watch and study. One I disturbed when walking 

 through some long grass, pounced on it, and 

 managed to grab it, carrying it home in my 

 pocket-handkerchief, the vole in the meantime 

 amusing itself by nibbling holes in the hand- 

 kerchief, so that never again was it any use. 

 The second had made itself a warm and 

 comfortable bed under a cock of hay, in which 

 nest it was no doubt sleeping happily when a 

 pickle was thrust into the hay and its covering 

 rudely torn off it. I was standing by, and as 

 the man raised the cock I saw the startled 

 mouse run away. Before it had time to 

 recover its wits I had grabbed it and, despite 

 the fact it began to use its small but sharp 

 yellow teeth on my fingers, kept hold of it 

 until it was put safely into a pocket, therein 

 to be carried to join the other vole in its 

 cage in the sitting-room. The first comer, 

 instead of being pleased to have company, 

 greeted it with angry squeaks. Rising on 

 their hind legs they glared at each other ; they 

 thrust with their little paws, they boxed, and 

 revolved round each other in furious combat, 

 their abusive squeaks continuing the while, 

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