172 A Mouse on the Tiyht-rope. 



bjf a loop of copper wire, which projects six or eight 

 inches from the wall, like a lamp on a bracket. The 

 mice may get on the bench, and may run np the wall, 

 but when they get to the wire the}' cannot walk out 

 on it — like tight-rope walking — the more especially 

 as the wire, being thin and flexible, bends and swa3-s 

 if they attempt it. This answers the purpose as a 

 rule ; but even here the cari)enter declares that once 

 now and then his horn is pilfered, and can only ac- 

 count for it by supposing that a bolder mouse than 

 common makes a desperate leap for it, and succeeds 

 in landing on the flat surface of the wooden stopper. 



The shed has one small window only, which has 

 no glass, but is secured b}' an iron bar (he needs no 

 larger window, for all carpenters work with the door 

 open) ; and through this window a robin has entered 

 and built a nest in a quiet corner behind some timber. 

 Though a man is at work here so often, hammering 

 and sawing, the birds come fearlessly to their young, 

 and pick up the crumbs he leaves from his lun- 

 cheon. 



Between the timber framework of the shed and 

 the brickwork of the adjacent stable chinks have 

 opened, and in these and in the chinks between the 

 wooden lintel of the stable-door and the bricks above 

 it the bats frequentl}' hide, passing the day there. 

 Others hide in the tiles of the roof where their nests 

 are made. The laboring lads often amuse them- 

 selves searching for these creatures, whose one ob- 

 ject in daylight seems to be to cling to something ; 

 thc}^ will hang to the coat with the claws at the 

 extremity of their membraneous wings, and if left 

 alone will creep out of sight into the pocket. There 



