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 
mice; 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. 4 
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. 
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