Meadow Mouse 



interesting tracery of footprints on its white surface, and are also not 

 infrequently seen out in the winter sunshine among weeds and bushes 

 that have remained uncovered In hard seasons they depend largely 

 on the bark of different fruit trees and shrubs, and even appear to 

 find the resinous bark of the ground juniper palatable, the vanishing 

 snow in the spring frequently revealing stems and branches stripped 

 bare of their covering beyond all possiblity of recovery. 



Lacking the agility of other mice they have learned to stand and 

 fight, no matter what the odds may be, employing the same manner 

 of defence that woodchucks do. And yet none of the regular mouse 

 hunters appears ever to hesitate to seize one of them ; inexperienced 

 kittens, and no doubt other young animals of like appetite, often get 

 well bitten in a first attempt, but soon discover a better method of 

 attack. Few animals are more constantly pursued than the meadow 

 nice; while the warm weather lasts they have to be constantly on 

 guard against the marsh hawk and the hen hawks who diligently 

 search the grass land in regions where they are allowed to build their 

 nests. Crows, also, are fond of going a-mousing on foot, particularly 

 in late summer after the grass is cut, but naturally are not nearly as 

 successful as the hawks. 



As winter approaches these foes gradually take their departure, 

 but their places are usually more than filled by the owls of various 

 species. With the exception of the great horned owl and the arctic owl, 

 these lovers of the twilight may be said to live on mice, the rabbits, 

 squirrels and birds which they capture being only side issues or 

 strokes of probably unexpected luck in a practically never-ending 

 mouse hunt. 



At uncertain intervals the rough-legged or winter hawks make 

 their appearance and bend their energies in the same direction ; like 

 the owls they seem to be forever seeking for good mousing country, 

 and having found it are apt to gather in considerable numbers and 

 establish themselves for an indefinite period. 



As quickly, however, as the meadow mice begin noticeably to 

 decrease in numbers or the snow becomes too deep for successful 

 hunting, these mousers from northern lands move on again to look 

 for better hunting grounds. 



The four-footed hunters, the foxes, cats and weasels of various 

 .sorts, are here at all seasons, and when meadow mice are abundant 

 chase them persistently, and when they are not go hunting for 

 other game. 



