THE RED COW 



trouble. Not a door or gate can be left open for a 

 moment, or the marauding Beatrice will be in mis- 

 chief. As a matter of fact, she no sooner got ac- 

 cess to the barnyard than she deserted the pigpen 

 altogether. Although her sleeping room was filled 

 with nice clean straw, she woudn't look at it. In- 

 stead, she began to root around the strawstack and 

 to gather a big pile of loose straw on the south side. 

 She chose the side that was sheltered from the pre- 

 vailing northwest wind, and constructed a nest that 

 is entirely to her own taste. When she gives up hope 

 of getting any more food each day she burrows her 

 way into her pile of straw and tucks it around her 

 like a blanket. When I go to the barnyard after 

 night I can hear her grunting rhythmically under 

 about four feet of straw. 



As long as I do not bang a pail or make a noise 

 like something eatable she remains at rest, but if any- 

 thing happens that conveys to her the idea that 

 something to eat is about, there is an instant earth- 

 quake in the pile of straw, and Beatrice emerges 

 with open mouth and complaining lungs Then the 

 business of kicking and name-calling is resumed. 

 We are hopeful that Beatrice will do her part in 



126 



