40 The White-Footed Mouse 



was absorbed in tearing apart what at first sight I 

 supposed to be the bird's nest. So intently was he 

 engaged in this task that I approached unobserved, 

 and when within thirty feet of the bird I discovered 

 that a white-footed mouse had placed his home on 

 the top of the bird's nest. The owl evidently knew 

 that it was the abode of a mouse, for he was opening 

 the nest by using both his beak and claws. Sud- 

 denly a white-footed mouse sprang clear of the nest, 

 which was not more than four and a half feet above 

 the ground, and struck upon the dried leaves below. 

 Instantly the screech owl dropped upon him and 

 bore him away in his talons to some evergreens near by. 

 This was the only time that I ever caught the screech 

 owL in the act of hunting the white-footed mouse. 



As a pet the white-footed mouse is very interesting. 

 In captivity it resembles in many ways the flying 

 squirrel, especially in its fondness for climbing about 

 your person and hiding in your pockets. 



