“I thought you wouldn't mind if Piney came,” explained Whitefoot.

 

“I'm glad he has come,” replied Old Mother Nature. “It is much better to see a thing than merely to be told about it, and now you have a chance to see for yourselves the differences between two cousins very closely related, Danny Meadow Mouse and Piney the Pine Mouse. What difference do you see, Happy Jack¹ Squirrel?”

 

“Piney is a little smaller than Danny, though he is much the same shape,” was the prompt reply.

 

“True,” said Old Mother Nature. “Now, Striped Chipmunk², what difference do you see?”

 

“The fur of Piney's coat is shorter, finer and has more of a shine. Then, too, it is more of a reddish-brown than Danny's,” replied Striped Chipmunk.

 

“And what do you say, Peter Rabbit?” asked Old Mother Nature.

 

“Piney has a shorter tail,” declared Peter, and everybody laughed.

 

“Trust you to look at his tail first,” said Old Mother Nature. “These are the chief differences as far as looks are concerned. Their habits differ in about the same degree. As you all know, Danny cuts little paths through the grass. Piney doesn't do this, but makes little tunnels just under the surface of the ground very much as Miner the Mole³ does. He isn't fond of the open Green Meadows or of damp places as Danny is, but likes best the edge of the Green Forest and brushy places. He is very much at home in a poorly kept orchard⁴ where the weeds are allowed to grow and in young orchards⁵ he does a great deal of damage by cutting off the roots of young trees and stripping off the bark as high up as he can reach. Tell us, Piney, how and where you make your home.”

分享到：