NEW GLEANINGS IN FIELD AND WOOD 



the mistress of the house was surprised to see the 

 whole collection of trash laid out in a line across 

 the floor. The articles were placed with some de- 

 gree of regularity covering a space about fifteen 

 inches wide and ten feet in length. There were 

 sixty-one articles in the row. 



Having such an unsavory creature in the base- 

 ment of one's house is rather ticklish business; 

 not so perilous as a stick of dynamite, yet fraught 

 with unpleasant possibilities. They cleared away 

 the exhibit and left the door open, hoping their 

 uninvited guest would take his departure. But he 

 did not. A few nights later he began another col- 

 lection, finding a lot of new material among other 

 things a box with old atomizer bulbs, four of which 

 bulbs he arranged here and there, in the row a 

 motley array. 



What is his object? I confess I do not know. 

 No one has seen him do it, as he works at night, 

 but there is little doubt that it is his work. 1 The 

 Western skunk is a small creature, not much bigger 

 than a gray squirrel. He can hide behind a dust- 

 pan. 



I wish some one would tell me why this night 

 prowler so often seems to spray the midnight air 

 with his essence which leaves no trace by day. He 

 never taints his own fur with it. In the wilds our 



*Later investigations point to this having been the work of 

 a wood rat instead of a skunk. C. B. 



207 



