In the abandoned birds' nests that are placed near the ground in shrubs and small trees close to hazel-nut bushes and bitter-sweet vines, you will often find a handful of hazel-nuts or bitter-sweet berries. They were put there by the white-footed mice and the meadow mice who visit these storehouses regularly. Very often a white-footed mouse will cover a bird's nest with fine dried grass and inner bark, and make a nest for itself. November Thirtieth Between now and the first of March you may expect to see large flocks of red-polls feeding on seeds among the weeds and low bushes, and cross-bills in the pine and spruce trees shelling seeds from the cones. [Illustration: Reproduced by the courtesy of the Field Columbian Museum. A FOUR-STORIED WARBLER'S NEST. EACH STORY REPRESENTS AN ATTEMPT BY THE WARBLER TO AVOID BECOMING FOSTER PARENT OF A YOUNG COWBIRD.] Notes =December= December First Besides being the means by which they capture their prey, the talons of an eagle, hawk, or owl are their weapons of defence. Their bill can really inflict but little injury. When wounded one of these birds will throw itself upon its back, and strike with its feet, burying its talons deep in the flesh of its adversary. December Second The gray or wood gray fox lives about the rocks and ledges. It is a noted tree climber, and, being less fleet than the red fox, it often eludes pursuing dogs by taking shelter in the rocks, or amid the branches of a tree. Running a short distance, it will spring to the side of a tree and scramble up the trunk. Sometimes it falls back and is obliged to repeat the performance several times before it is able to gain the first branches, from which it can easily climb from limb to limb as high as it chooses. December Third The junco and the horned lark in some localities are called "snowbird," but the snow bunting, or snowflake, is the only bird correctly so called. These birds do not look alike, but the appearance of the three species in large numbers during the winter is confusing to one not versed in bird-lore. [Illustration: SNOW BUNTING.] Notes December Fourth Why is it that most carnivorous animals, as well as most birds of prey, refuse to eat shrews and moles? It may be due to the strong pungent odor of their bodies. Cats will catch them and play with them, but owls are the only creatures that seem to care for them for food. December Fifth Mr. Newhall says that a lady told him that an Oneida Indian once cured her grandfather of a severe illness. He afterward learned that the medicine used was an extract of witch-hazel, and later prepared and sold it widely. December Sixth