92 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



makes its nests under tree roots and sometimes in old 

 birds' nests. I will set a trap for it, and then we can 

 look at it closely." 



"Yes, uncle, but please not a choke trap; it's too 

 pretty. We could look at it ever so much better if we 

 caught it in one of those little house-traps, with a wheel 

 for it to run around in — that they sell at the store. I 

 can shake enough money out of my bank to buy one, 

 because I haven't shaken it for nearly two months." 



" No need of that ; there are some old traps up garret 

 that Rod may clean for you, and a Squirrel cage too, I 

 think. I am willing for you to have a few such winter 

 pets here in camp, if you care for them properly. It is 

 no harm to keep a Squirrel or a Coon as a well-fed 

 captive in the hungry winter season, if you let them 

 go again before they pine for freedom. Remember, 

 this camp is to be the place for your treasures, summer 

 and winter. 



" There is plenty of room in those empty dresser 

 shelves for all the sticks and stones and empty nests 

 you find, that would only be in the way and make a 

 litter in the house." 



" Mousey has gone down between the bricks ! " ex- 

 claimed Dodo. " Is the Deer Mouse a four-footed 

 American, Uncle Roy?" 



" Yes, a true native, but the common, brown House 

 Mouse and Rat are the children of foreign parents, 

 who sneaked over here like stowaways, in bales of mer- 

 chandise, and have now spread from the seaports, like 

 tramps, all over the land. 



" By the way, young folks, what shall we call our 

 camp? It should certainly have a name. You shall 



