44. ANIMAL COMPETITORS 
The Scientific American some years ago is typ- . 
ical: 
‘‘A few winters since, while one of his family was 
amusing herself at the piano, a mouse made his ap- 
pearance on the threshold of the apartment, and, un- 
dismayed by the light or the presence of the family, 
chirped and ecarolled with intense satisfaction to 
itself, and to the great delight of its audience. Fre- 
quently afterward, but always in the evening; the 
rare songster repeated his performance. The piano 
keys were never struck that the mouse did not fol- 
low; but when the instrument was not touched, the 
music from the mouse would come, as if for a re- 
minder. Sometimes the little animal made himself 
visible and sometimes was hidden in the pantry 
which, for reasons obvious to housekeepers, he, she, 
or it had selected as an abode. One evening the 
mouse was traced to the stairway. Under the carpet 
sat the little creature, throwing his soul into his song. 
A lamp was placed beside him, and the family stood 
and looked and listened for half an hour or more. 
His head was up, and the movements of the muscles 
of his throat were plainly visible. Unfortunately our 
correspondent undertook to capture the singer. Many 
mice were caught and each was given twenty-four 
hours grace to sing for its life. But never after 
the treachery of the trap was the sound of the 
mouse’s carol heard. If caught he died and made no 
sign,’’ 
