We have already seen how the abandoned winter nest of the campagnol is utilised by the wasp or humble-bee, and we now see that when the blackbird and thrush have abandoned the cherry-stones as useless to them, there is the campagnol waiting for them and ready to carry them off to the store-chamber which it has previously prepared.
A PIKE STRANGLED BY AN EEL.
Beside the winter nest, there is the summer nest, which is primarily intended for the reception and nurture of the young. This, like the corresponding nest of the squirrel, is made of slight materials and loose structure, so that the air is freely admitted. It is generally composed of grass blades, which have been torn in strips by the campagnol. It is globular in shape, and is mostly placed on the ground, amid concealing grass or herbage.
There is, however, before me a photograph of the nest of a campagnol, which was discovered in a very remarkable position, and made of very unusual materials. It was found in a garden store-house at Castle Carey, by the Rev. W. Smith-Tomkins, Vicar of Durstow. He kindly sent me a copy of the photograph, together with the following description—
“Bedford Villa,
“The Shrubbery,
“Weston-super-Mare.
“August 8th, 1886.
“This nest of the short-tailed field-mouse was found by me a few years ago on a heap of barley straw, which was used to cover a small store of potatoes. Its chief interest to the finder, in addition to its beauty, consists in this. It was all manufactured out of one kind of raw material, namely, the leaves of the barley straw, which the maker shred up into thin threads according to her taste, so as to suit the different parts of the structure. There was no other material available for use.
“The mouse had found its way into the storehouse through a hole under the wall. I am sorry to say that she was killed when found, and before the nest had been used for its proper purpose. Two or three weeks before I had looked over the place, and she had not commenced operations.
“On referring to ‘Homes without Hands,’ I find it stated by Mr. J. J. Briggs that he could never find an entrance to the interior (the nests being closed up, as you say is the case with the nest of the harvest mouse). I infer from this, that it is due to its incompleteness that the entrance in this case is open and visible, and that its structure is therefore so open to inspection.”