there were no tracks on the snow beneath where the Shrike ■ 
suspended him I concluded that this bird returned and took 
him away. 
Pair of 
Ruffed Grouse 
together 
Field Mice 
From a belt of alders on the N.E. side of my 
maple swamp I started a pair of Ruffed Grouse, The female, 
a small bird with a very rufous tail, flew first , the male, 
a large gray-tailed individual following her closely. The 
snow everywhere in and about this swamp is covered with 
their tracks. They evidently follow the lines of bushes 
as a rule but in one place the tracks crossed a wide 
opening, the bird showing by the length of its stride that 
it felt the need of haste in crossing so exposed a place. 
I burned the large brush-heap to-day and watched 
it to see what would come out. Nothing appeared but a 
Field Mouse which to my surprise seemed very little alarmed 
and clung to the slight shelter afforded by the outer 
fringe of brush until I left the spot. One of these Mice 
inhabits the wood-pile at my cabin and has become so tame 
that it will almost eat from my hand. To-day I threw it 
several pieces of cake which it ate fearlessly while three 
or four of us were standing in a circle about it within 
three or four feet. Its eyes look precisely like black 
beads and have scarcely more expression. In form and 
motions,especially the strongly arched back,it reminds me 
of a Musk-rat. 
