56 Winter Birds' Nests [THIRD WEEK 



you will find a replica of the gray squirrel's nest, only, of 

 course, much smaller. This handiwork of the white-footed 

 or deer mouse can be found in almost every field or tangle 

 of undergrowth; the nest of a field sparrow or catbird 

 being used as a foundation and thickly covered over and 

 tightly thatched with leaves. Now and then, even in 

 mid-winter, we may find the owner at home, and as the 

 weasel is the most bloodthirsty, so the deer mouse is the 

 most beautiful and gentle of all the fur-coated folk of our 

 woods. With his coat of white and pale golden brown 

 and his great black, lustrous eyes, and his timid, trusting 

 ways, he is altogether lovable. 



He spends the late summer and early autumn in his 

 tangle-hung home, but in winter he generally selects a 

 snug hollow log, or some cavity in the earth. Here he 

 makes a round nest of fine grass and upon a coucti of 

 thistle-down he sleeps in peace, now and then waking to 

 partake of the little hoard of nuts which he has gathered, 

 or he may even dare to frolic about upon the snow in the 

 cold winter moonlight, leaving behind him no trace, save 

 the fairy tracery of his tiny footprints. 



Wee, sleekit, cow'rin', tim'rous beastie, 

 O, what a panic's in thy breastie! 

 Thou need na start awa sae hasty, 



Wi' bickering brattle! 

 I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee, 

 Wi' murd'ring prattle! 



ROBERT BURNS. 



