The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-02-20
 CITIZENS OF THE FOREST.

A forest is sometimes described as a collection of trees, and the descrip- tion is about as enlightening as the statement that a city is a collection of buildings. Like the city, the forest has vast population, without which it would be as interesting as a city without it's citizens. We admire beautiful trees as we admire beautiful buildings, for themselves, but more in- teresting to some of us at least are the lives and works of the creatures which inhabit the buildings and the trees re- spectively. When I enter a forest in winter or summer, I am always aware that I am not alone, though the air be so still that one might hear the growing of the trees. know that am watched by many eyes, and that at every foot fell scores of ears are on the alert. know that I am causing many light sleeping creature to start up in his bed, and from close observation am led to
 believe too that, in the woods I visit most frequently, some of the wild things turn over for another nap, with the more or less distinct impression that tits only the fellow with the slouch hat and khaki brooches, and there's no use staying awake for him.
 If you go into the woods in the early spring you may at first be under the impression that there is little life about you. But sit down awhile, and wait in some spot where your figure will not be too conspicuous, and you will probably see some of the creatures whose work you temporarily interrupted. First of all, perhaps, you will hear faint, crisp drumming seund-the sound made by a wood mouse when he drums with one fore feet on dry leaf, and after short interval you will probably hear the answering "br-r-r-r-r-r" of another mouse. Then, if you are quiet you will see the dainty form of the creature it. |sels, with its tawny upper parts, white belly and feet, its large black eyes, it's well-shaped, translucent ears, it's trembling whiskers and it's long, silky tail, the latter held carefully off the ground in a graceful curve. Out from the shadow of a bunch of withered leaves he skips, letps lightly over the ground to wild-cherry tree, where he searches for and eventually finds cherry store. A simple matter, this hunting for and finding of meal; and Iyet to the mouse it was business !very important business, since it must be attended to faithfully every day if he would avoid hunger or even starvation. Next, perhaps you will be aware that a red squirrel is peering out at you from a knot-hole in an old oak, tree. Keep still. and. when he goes out to dine, perhaps he will betray the whereabouts |of some store of nuts gathered months ago. And these little hoards, how many busy days they represent-days at the end of which even his wiry legs must have ached. I sometimes wonder, at the end of autumn. the squirrels and other creatures which have been laying up food for the winter, feel any satis- faction, akin to that which is felt by farmers when their crops are all garner ed. And I wonder if, when the stores of a red squirrel are discovered and eaten up by a pig, the owner does not have a feeling somewhat similar to that exper- fenced by 8 thrifty man whose savings are stolen by a burglar.
 fAllu< csS SOu SiL ttltIt III StlGllCe, you Imay hear the sudden 'thunp" of a rabbit, who. hopping quietly through the undergrowth, has discovered your presence. It is not unlikely that he was travelling on business of some kind, i'm por.ant to himself at least And what meant the ''thump' he gave by bringing his long hind feet sharply to the ground? Was it. as many claim. A warning given to his fellows, or was it possibly the expression of his personal disapproval of something which inter- fered temporarily with the work he had in hand?
 And. perhaps close to you on the ground, a pellet of matted fur may be- tray the presence of some large owl; probably the barred owl which lives in a hollow high up in the very tree