The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-01
THE HOMES OF
WILD CREATURES
That Of Bald Eagle Most Strik-
ing Among Birds
THE BEARS SNOW HOUSE
VOLTS Den Is Simply Hole Dug in the
Side of a Bank--Little Harvest
Mouse Makes n Dainty
Nest
THE BEARS SNOW HOUSE

From Mature and Science" in May ST.
Nicholas
| There is peculiar charm and interest
in the study of the homes of wild crea-
| lures Their efforts and the result in
| building these, even If crude, appeal to
our sympat&les.
| We have admired and to some extent
have investigated the nests of the more
familiar birds; we have seen the squirrel
make his home in some dead tree or hol-
low limb; we have, perhaps, studied the
muskrat and his peculiar, dome-shaped
house. Few people, however, have had
the opportunity of giving the matter ex-
tended study.
Among birds, the home of the bald eagle
is perhaps the most striking, possibly be-
cause of the majesty of the bird itself.
1t appeals to the imagination Built of
huge sticks loosely interviewer, and stu
ated on some lofty and inaccessible ledge,
with the bones of the eagles victims scat
tered round about 1t gives a poor setting
to the stern and savage character of its
builder. Here the eagle reigns supreme,
and here year after year he and his ma tie
rear their young. This is the aery from
Which we can scan the whole country
side and, like the robber barons of old,
levy toll on all who pass his door,
al III VIC oliliH Willie nOTlH, WnST0
winter reigns supreme, is the home of
the polar bear. When the long arctic
night approaches the bear retires to some
sheltered spot such as the cleft of a rock
or the foot of some precipitous bank. In
a very short time he is effectualy con-
cealed by the heavy snowdrfts Some
times the bear waits until after a heavy
fall of snow, and then digs a white cavern
of the requisite form and size. Such is
hnnon cixy IA,n
Our common little cottontail or socalled
rabbit, does not live in a burrow as does
the English rabbit, but makes a slight de-
preston in the ground. in which she lies
so flatly pressed to the earth as to be
scarcely distngushable from the soil
and the dried heritage in which her abode
Is situated. The rabbit is strongly at
tached to it's home wherever it may be
placed, and. even if driven to a great dis
lance from it, contrives to regain it's little
domicile at the earliest opportunity.
One of the most gruesome among ami
NAL homes Is the VOLTS den. This Is SIM
ply hole dug in the side of bank or a
small natural cave, generally situated on
the sunny side or a ridge, and almost hid
den by bushes and loose boulders Here
the wolf lies snug; in and about his door,
way lie the remains of past feasts, which,
VOLTS den not very inviting place.
Nevertheless there is something so dread
and mysterious about this soft-footed
marauder that it even lends a fascina-
ton to his home
''fy-by-night" sort of home is that of
our friend the bob white, vet it seems TO
serve the purpose very well. Under the
broad, low Dough of a small pine of cedar
tree the flock take their nights repose
n .1xx
with their heads outward, and so they
rest, presenting barricade of sharp eyes
and the sharper ears against possible
danger. c.
The home of the elegant little harvest
mouse next claims our attention. It is
oullt upon three or four rank grass stems
and Is situated foot of so from the
ground. In form it is globular and about
four inches in diameter 1t Is comnosed
of thin dry grass. is of nearly uniform
substance, and open and airy in construc-
ton. 1t shows great cleverness in this
little animal, which is the smallest of
mammals.
The winter home of the American red
deer Is very interesting. When the snow
begins to fly, the leader of the herd
guloes them to some sheltered spot where
provender is plentiful. Here as the snow
falls, they pack it down, tramping out
considerable space, while about them
the snow mounts higher and higher until
they cannot get out if they would.
From the main opening or yard" as
1t is called, tramped-out paths lead to
the nearby trees and shrubbery, which
supply them with food. In this way
they manage to pass the winter in COM
parative peace and safety
One could go on enumeratine bird and
animal homes by the score. and thew
would all be Of interest. The present
space, however, will not permit of going
further The writer has, therefore, simp-
described some of the more curious of
the homes, as we'll as those presenting
the widest contrast