64 WOODLAND CREATURES 



to me that the old one ran out first and hurried 

 off up one of the branches, and then her family 

 jumped in all directions. Three or four nearly 

 full-grown mice fell to the ground and scurried 

 away into the undergrowth. As they ran they 

 appeared a trifle darker than the adult, but 

 resembled the parent in all other respects. 



Apropos of these young ones springing from the 

 top of the bush, it is extraordinary from what a 

 height a dormouse can fall and yet meet with 

 no injury. A pet one sprang from a curtain 

 pole, falling on the floor with a thump that 

 terrified me, but it was not in the least hurt. Of 

 course a dormouse has a strong grip, its little 

 pink handlike paws holding the twigs extraordi- 

 narily firmly, so that such feats are hardly ever 

 involuntary ones. 



To go back to the family described above, 

 when they scattered into the fallen leaves and 

 fern, I thought I had seen the last of them, but 

 went to the nest again the following day to make 

 sure they had not returned. To my surprise 

 the entrance was closed, and the usual gentle 

 tap brought the old dormouse to view. She 

 at any rate had returned home, but whether 

 she had collected her family I never knew, for 

 I was unable to visit the nest for some time after 

 this, and when I did do so it was, it is true, 

 still occupied, but now by a usurper. The keen 

 long head, the large black eyes, and big ears of 

 a long-tailed mouse appeared in the entrance. 

 The stranger jumped out and ran off, and I was 



