Frank, the Young Naturalist | Page 8

surround him on all sides, their mouths wide open, as if
reviling their enemy with all their might. The next scene represents a
flock of ducks sporting in the water, and a sly old fox, concealed
behind the trunk of a tree close by, is watching their motions, evidently
with the intention of "bagging" one of them for his supper. In the next
scene he is running off, at full speed, with one of the ducks thrown over
his shoulder; and the others, with their mouths open as if quacking
loudly, are just rising from the water. In the next scene is a large black
wolf, which has just killed a lamb, and crouches over it with open
mouth, as if growling fiercely at something which is about to interrupt
his feast. The next scene represents a fish-hawk, which has just risen
from the lake, with a large trout struggling in his talons; and just above
him is a bald-eagle, with his wings drawn close to his body, in the act
of swooping down upon the fish-hawk, to rob him of his hard-earned
booty. In the next scene a raccoon is attempting to seize a robin, which

he has frightened off her nest. The thief had crawled out on the limb on
which the nest was placed, intending, no doubt, to make a meal of the
bird; but mother Robin, ever on the watch, had discovered her enemy,
and flown off just in time to escape. The next scene is a large
"dead-fall" trap, nicely set, with the bait placed temptingly within; and
before it crouches a sleek marten, peeping into it as if undecided
whether to enter or not.
All these specimens have been cured and stuffed by Frank and Archie;
and, with the exception of the deer and wolves, they had killed them all.
The latter had been furnished by Archie's father. The boys had never
killed a deer, and he had promised to take them, during the coming
winter with him up into the northern part of the state, where they would
have an opportunity of trying their skill on the noble game.
But the museum is not the only thing that has given Frank the name of
the "young naturalist." He is passionately fond of pets, and he has a
pole shanty behind the museum, which he keeps well stocked with
animals and birds. In one cage he has a young hawk, which he has just
captured; in another, a couple of squirrels, which have become so tame
that he can allow them to run about the shanty without the least fear of
their attempting to escape. Then he has two raccoons, several pigeons,
kingbirds, quails, two young eagles, and a fox, all undergoing a
thorough system of training. But his favorite pets are a pair of kingbirds
and a crow, which are allowed to run at large all the time. They do not
live on very good terms with each other. In their wild state they are
enemies, and each seems to think the other has no business about the
cottage; and Frank has been the unwilling witness to many a desperate
fight between them, in which the poor crow always comes off second
best. Then, to console himself, he will fly upon Frank's shoulder,
cawing with all his might, as if scolding him for not lending some
assistance. To make amends for his defeat, Frank gives him a few
kernels of corn, and then shows him a hawk sailing through the air; and
Sam, as he calls the crow, is off in an instant, and, after tormenting the
hawk until he reaches the woods, he will always return.
Not a strange bird is allowed to come about the cottage. The kingbirds,

which have a nest in a tree close by the house, keep a sharp look-out;
and hawks, eagles, crows, and even those of their own species, all
suffer alike. But now and then a spry little wren pays a visit to the
orchard, and then there is sport indeed. The wren is a great fighting
character, continually getting into broils with the other birds, and he
has no notion of being driven off; and, although the kingbirds, with
Sam's assistance, generally succeed in expelling the intruder, it is only
after a hard fight.
Directly opposite the door that opens into the museum is another
entrance, which leads into a room which Frank calls his shop. A
work-bench has been neatly fitted up in one corner, at the end of which
stands a large chest filled with carpenter's tools. On the bench are
several half-finished specimens of Frank's skill--a jointed fish-pole, two
or three finely-shaped hulls, and a miniature frigate, which he is
making for one of his friends. The shop and tools are kept in