WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



Even after they had settled down in their 

 new home their manners did not improve : they 

 quarrelled over everything, and sometimes 

 over nothing. Food was a constant source of 

 trouble. One day I dropped a bit of bread into 

 the cage, which was soon found by a small 

 mouse. She picked it up, and holding it in her 

 paws began to eat it, but had hardly had time 

 to gnaw more than a mouthful or two when 

 out came a second vole. She did not wait to 

 see what number two would do, but reared on 

 her hind legs and squeaked ; so did number two, 

 though it had not seen the ' find ' the first was so 

 anxious to keep. Like two boxers, they came 

 nearer to each other. Round and round they 

 went, prodding now and again at one another. 

 They were far too intent on each other to 

 see that the big mouse had come out ; he looked 

 at them, sniffed the bread, picked it up, and 

 scuttled off to the nest, where no doubt he 

 ate it quietly while the others went on with 

 their fight. They squeaked at one another, 

 and if it was not swear words it sounded like 

 it ; they pushed and shoved each other about, 

 they fought up and down the cage, until at 

 last one turned tail and ran. After her raced 

 the other, bringing her to bay in the corner of 

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