44 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 



The Scientific American some years ago is typ- 

 ical: 



"A few winters since, while one of his family was 

 amusing herself at the piano, a mouse made his ap- 

 pearance on the threshold of the apartment, and, un- 

 dismayed by the light or the presence of the family, 

 chirped and carolled with intense satisfaction to 

 itself, and to the great delight of its audience. Fre- 

 quently afterward, but always in the evening, the 

 rare songster repeated his performance. The piano 

 keys were never struck that the mouse did not fol- 

 low; but when the instrument was not touched, the 

 music from the mouse would come, as if for a re- 

 minder. Sometimes the little animal made himself 

 visible and sometimes was hidden in the pantry 

 which, for reasons obvious to housekeepers, he, she, 

 or it had selected as an abode. One evening the 

 mouse was traced to the stairway. Under the carpet 

 sat the little creature, throwing his soul into his song. 

 A lamp was placed beside him, and the family stood 

 and looked and listened for half an hour or more. 

 His head was up, and the movements of the muscles 

 of his throat were plainly visible. Unfortunately our 

 correspondent undertook to capture the singer. Many 

 mice were caught and each was given twenty-four 

 hours grace to sing for its life. But never after 

 the treachery of the trap was the sound of the 

 mouse's carol heard. If caught he died and made no 

 sign. ' ' 



