204 WASTE-LAND WANDERINGS. 



very funny, but not more so than its quick recovery 

 from astonishment, and prompt resolve to consider the 

 remarkable situation. It sat upright on its haunches, 

 like a marmot, and looked in every direction, but seeing 

 no other dry route to shore than over the boat, and not 

 desiring a second swim, it cautiously approached until 

 within a few inches of me, w^ien it gave a shrill squeak 

 and broke into a run. In a moment it was out of sight. 



An empty nest of a wood-thrush, directly above my 

 head, recalled another wild mouse that is exceedingly 

 abundant on the wooded bluff that faces the terrace. 

 I refer to the white-footed or deer -mouse. The nest 

 above me recalled them, because in October very many 

 of the larger birds'-nests, esj^ecially if in tliickets, will be 

 found to have been converted into cosey winter retreats 

 by these beautiful little mammals. 



]^otwithstanding my having given much attention to 

 the subject, autumn after autumn, for several years, I 

 have never been able to clear up several points in the 

 histories of these bush-nests of the white-footed mice. 

 In the first place, how far are these old birds'-nests re- 

 modelled ; and again, are not a certain number of these 

 mouse retreats constructed de novo, the builders using 

 the abandoned nest of the bird for the exterior of the 

 new structure ? 



In the months of October and IRovember of tlie ]3ast 

 year I examined a series of forty-two bush-nests, as I 

 prefer to call them. Every one was materially different 

 from an ordinary bird's -nest, none being open above, 

 nor having the lining that birds use. They were all oc- 



