288 BAYS OUT OF DOORS. 



the presence of the animal been suspected, I do not think 

 there existed the slightest clew to its precise whereabouts. 

 The excavation, as judged by the undisturbed portion, was 

 nearly globular, and about five inches in diameter. The 

 cavity was filled with fine, flexible grasses, except the 

 very center, wherein was curled the torpid jumping mouse. 

 As with the earth-chamber, so the grasses lining it were 

 without the slightest trace of an entrance to the center. 

 Apparently, after the mouse had curled itself up, it had 

 kept one paw, at least, free and shut the door and 

 barred it on the inside. Then, tucking this paw under 

 its chin, the world was to go easy with it until next 

 spring-tide. 



My captured and now contented mouse was thrown 

 from its nest to the surface of a load of sand, and fortu- 

 nately rested on the load instead of beneath it. The 

 creature's unceremonious eviction did it no harm, and 

 when first seen, at the end of a very short journey, it was 

 subjected to a toss to the hard ground, upon which it fell 

 with some force. A moment later, it was handed to me. 

 From the time of its exposure until I received it, not 

 more than ten minutes, if so much, had elapsed. When 

 I laid it upon the palm of my hand, it was, to all appear- 

 ances, a fuzzy stone — a hard, cold, oval pebble, such as 

 one might pick up anywhere. Neither ears, limbs, nor 

 tail were visible, the former being pressed closely against 

 the breast and abdomen, while the tail was lost to sight in 

 the fur of the back and head, to which it clung as closely 

 as poison ivy to the oak. 



With it still in the position mentioned, I sat by a 

 stove for fifty minutes, intent upon watching the effect 

 of a high temperature, trusting the transition would not 

 prove too sudden and so fatal. It was no light task to- 

 ward the last, but I persevered in spite of discomfort. 

 For twenty minutes there was no change beyond that of 



