Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/453

Rh were still one or two Spiders on the outside of it. Within a foot of the nest was an open bird's nest, apparently that of a finch, containing two eggs, with which, however, I was unacquainted, they being very similar in appearance to those of the European Bullfinch. It seemed hardly probable that this could be the cause of the commotion, and so it proved, for the eggs were clearly deserted, being quite cold and hard set. I then examined the Spiders' nest, and was surprised to hear sundry squeaks inside, so, placing my butterfly-net beneath it, I tore the nest open, and out dropped four little Dormice (Myoxus nanus, De Wint.). Here, then, was the cause of this twofold domestic tragedy! Here, too, was the explanation of the facts I had observed on the Umfali, for in the centre of the nest was a chamber lined with soft grassheads, feathery flower-seeds, and one or two feathers. Subsequent observation has convinced me that this is a normal habit on the part of the Mashona Dormouse, for I have since found two full-grown specimens in similar positions, and, besides, a large proportion of disused nests show clear signs of having been thus occupied. I expect the primary attraction will be found to be the Beetles caught in the Spiders' web, the Dormice having gradually learnt to utilise these snares for their own purposes, and finally evicting the inhabitants. Whether they usually occupy deserted nests, or themselves oust the lawful proprietors, cannot yet be decided for certain; but the above instance clearly demonstrates that the latter method is sometimes employed, and from the evidence before me I am inclined to believe that this is the usual course. It is pretty clear that in this case the mother Dormouse must have brought her young to the nest, for they were fully a week old, and perhaps more, and the condition of the nest showed that it had been occupied only for a short time. Likewise it seems probable that the Spiders resisted the invasion for some time, as it was evident that they could only have evacuated a few hours before, whereas it must have taken the Dormouse some little time to construct her nest and bring her young there.

To return to the victims—they were busying themselves all this while in setting their house in order, though a large proportion were apparently of opinion that it was desirable to put a still greater distance between them and their persecutors; for