FIELD MICE 



gray coats serve to hide their movements in the 

 somber shades of night but they closely resem- 

 ble the dead and dried vegetation about them. 

 Then, too, their runways are concealed beneath 

 grass, leaves, fallen trees or logs. With them 

 it is one continual problem of concealment and 

 this environment and instinct both help to se- 

 cure. 



Notwithstanding all this care and the aid 

 nature has given in protective coloration and 

 habits of concealment they often do not avail. 

 Many a hungry mink, or weasel, or badger, or 

 skunk, or snake, besides a number of birds of 

 prey, like hawks and owls, daily destroy large 

 numbers of these timid little animals. While 

 Aunt was telling me of their interesting ways 

 and of their big, hungry enemies my sympathy 

 was aroused for the little hunted things. How I 

 longed to be able to protect them from all their 

 enemies. They seemed so delicate and harmless ! 

 As I stood looking at the many little runways I 

 pictured them, in my childish fancy, as peopled 

 with tiny, gray living objects, that went about 

 unmolested and without fear, that lived and 

 moved in perfect freedom and so were happy. 



