NATURE'S CALENDAR 135 



are masters. This is by no means pleas- June 15 



ing to the birds or to the fraternity of 

 mice, for the weasels and their sharp- 

 toothed kin prowl day and night, in June, 

 in search of nests— especially those con- 

 taining young birds. Watching with keen 

 eyes, and sniffing with sensitive noses, 

 they steal through the grass, or creep 

 lithe and still along the branches, trying 

 to surprise the little mother brooding 

 over her treasures. Failing in that, the 

 marauder may, at least, hope to rifie the 

 nest of its eggs or its young — either will 

 be welcome. 



The red squirrels are also addicted to 

 this, proving a dreadful scourge to the 

 birds where they are plentiful ; and such 

 nests as those of the oriole and vireo, 

 which are beyond their reach, are liable 

 to be rifled by crows and blue jays, so 

 that all is not peace among the birds in 

 this sweet June weather. 



Such "small deer" as field-mice and 

 rabbits have got one family out of the 

 way, and are preparing for a second ; but 

 the beautiful spotted fawns of the real 

 deer are finding the use of their slender 

 legs, and learning lessons in woodcraft as 

 they timidly follow the does to the feed- 

 ing-places, while the red bucks are hid- 

 ing away, with aching brows, for their 

 new antlers are now sprouting " in the 

 velvet." 



June's fishes do not differ greatly from 

 those of May. Young of some kinds be- 



