1 84 COUNTRY NEIGHBORS AGAIN. 



by mosquito-netting would be the only proper cage. The 

 humming-bird, as we are told by naturalists, though very 

 fond of the honey of flowers, does not live on it entirely, 

 or even principally. It is in fact a little fly-catcher, and lives 

 on small insects ; and a humming-bird never can be kept 

 healthy for any length of time in a room that does not 

 admit insects enough to furnish him a living. So you see 

 it is not merely toads, and water-snakes, and such homely 

 creatures, that live by eating other living beings, but 

 even the fairy-like and brilliant humming-bird. 



The autumn months are now coming on (for it is Octo- 

 ber while I write), the flowers are dying night by night 

 as the frosts grow heavier, the squirrels are racing about, 

 full of business, getting in their winter's supply of nuts ; 

 everything now is active and busy among our country 

 neighbors. In a cottage about a quarter of a mile from 

 us, a whole family of squirrels have made the discovery 

 that a house is warmer in winter than the best hollow 

 tree, and so have gone in to a chink between the walls, 

 where Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel can often be heard late at 

 night chattering and making quite a family fuss about the 

 arrangement of their household goods for the coming sea- 

 son. This is all the news about the furry people that I 

 have to give you. The flying squirrel I have not yet 

 heard from, perhaps he will appear yet as the weather 

 gets colder. 



