The Kangaroo Rat 



not sure of this, for the roof caved in before I 

 could examine it fully. 



The chamber itself was very large, being 

 twelve inches long and eight inches wide, with 

 a high vaulted roof at least over five inches 

 from the floor, and ribbed with the living roots 

 of the grand old bayonet-trees at the door. 

 Having discovered the entry to it, I thought I 

 was in the nest ; but not so. I was stopped 

 now by a mass of interlaced, spiny grasses that 

 would probably have turned the Huajalote had 

 he gotten so far. After I had forced my way 

 through this I found that the real entrance was 

 cleverly hidden near a corner. Then there was 

 a thick felting of fine grass and weed silk, and 

 inside of all a lining of softest feathers. I think 

 that every gay little Bird on the plains must 

 have contributed one of its finest feathers to 

 that nest, for it was as soft and pretty and warm 

 as it should have been for the cradle of those 

 pinky-white seed-pearls that the Perodipus's 

 babies are when first they come from the land 

 of the Stars and the Stork into their under- 

 ground home. 



Down in one corner of this Great Hall I 

 248 



