A HERMIT FOR THE DAY. 241 



uralist," but he is something besides no matter 

 what. 



And the chickadees passed by. 



But the woods proved not an aviary only. I 

 have spoken of squirrels. There were rabbits, 

 mice, and a stray mink, also, there, and what 

 host of hidden creatures, furred and feathered, 

 we shall never know. The heyday of the wood's 

 wild life, however, was well-nigh over. It was 

 past noon, and rest was .the order of the hour. 

 What creatures I saw moved with great leisure, 

 as if annoyed that they had to move at all. The 

 mink crept along a prostrate log as though stiff 

 in ever}' joint, but when at the end of his short 

 journey I whistled shrilly, with what animation 

 it stood erect and stared in the direction of the 

 sound ! How evident that this feature of the 

 sense of direction is well developed ! Half con- 

 cealed as I was, the mink saw nothing to rouse 

 its suspicions ; it was merely curious or puzzled ; 

 it was thinking. Here was an occurrence be- 

 yond the range of its experience. What did it 

 mean ? The mink did not move a muscle, but 

 stared at me. Then I commenced whistling in a 

 low tone, and the animal became more excited ; 

 it moved its head from side to side, as if in doubt, 

 and needed but a slight demonstration upon my 

 part to convert this doubting into fear. I 

 whistled more loudly, and moved my arms. In 



