292 Clear Skies and Cloudy. 



generally, from man to the mole, does condem- 

 nation descend with unpitying severity, and the 

 truth never regarded, even though trumpet- 

 tongued ! Ignorant farmer, in this case ; but 

 let the learned mammalogist be very sure that 

 he has never blundered. 



To return to the meadow-mouse. By merest 

 chance I got what I think is an inkling of why it 

 jumps ; or is it a case of misinterpreted appear- 

 ances ? There was a full-grown garter-snake in 

 pursuit. Did the mouse keep closely to the 

 ground and depend upon running only it would 

 prove a short chase, but when the pursued crea- 

 ture leaps above the grass, now in one direction, 

 now in another, the snake is bewildered, and the 

 mouse gains sufficient headway to reach some 

 safely sheltering spot. Of course the mouse 

 would soon become exhausted and the snake 

 ultimately overtake it So, at least, I interpreted 

 what I had witnessed. Possibly many another 

 explanation might be brought forward, but I 

 am satisfied with my own effort to make clear 

 the purpose of the mouse I watched, and do 

 not obstruct the ultimate acquisition of the 

 truth so long as I am willing to be set right 



