Mammal Craftsmen. 



against the bars of his prison he began to peer eagerly 

 out at the woodland, looking all round, and at last, 

 giving vent to the most plaintive cry imaginable, darted 

 into his nesting-box as if the sight of his natural sur- 

 roundings and the knowledge that he was a helpless 

 prisoner in their midst were more than his little heart 

 could stand. Very gently I opened wide the door of 

 his cage, and then drew back out of sight behind a con- 

 venient bush, that I might watch without disturbing 

 the little creature. Once more he issued from the 

 nesting-box to explore the bars of his cage in the vain 

 hope of finding a way of escape. At last he came to 

 the open door, rested his forefeet on the ledge and 

 looked out intently, longingly, and again gave the same 

 plaintive, half -crooning call. 



Poor little chap, although standing on the very 

 threshold of liberty, he had not yet realized it. There 

 he sat for fully three minutes, his ears pricked and 

 poor battered nose gently working, sniffing the scents 

 of the forest ; then he stretched his head forward, and 

 found no bars in front, or to right or left, or above, 

 and in a moment he realized his freedom. A little flash 

 of ruddy brown fur darted from the cage swift and 

 straight for the nearest tree, up which he sped with 

 lightning-like rapidity. I think both I and my dear 

 wife, who had come with me to witness the return to 

 freedom of our little friend, had rather tight throats 

 and an unaccountable mistiness of vision for a few 

 minutes as we softly stole out of the woodland into 

 the bogland path; but we were a very happy couple 

 all that glorious long summer day, for we had been 

 able to give back the joy of life and freedom to one of 



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