HKSI'KKOMYS l.Krcol'US. 265 



locker was entered from the top, and the path to it was circuitous 

 and difficult. 



The White-footed Mouse is fond of flesh and, like the flying squir- 

 rel, eagerly devours dead birds placed in its way. Indeed, this is 

 done so naturally, that the suspicion arises as to whether it does not 

 sometimes capture and prey upon the smaller birds while on their 

 roosts at night. 



Dr. Samuel Lockwood had a caged Hesperomys from Florida. 

 " Sometimes a fly would enter the cage, when she would spring at, 

 and catch it, sometimes with her mouth, and at others with her hands. 

 This she would eat with great relish. ... A little sod of fresh 

 grass and white clover was occasionally put into the cage. This she 

 enjoyed greatly, eating the greens like a rabbit ; only always insisting 

 on sitting up to do it. It was interesting to witness how ready she 

 was for emergencies. Sitting on her hind feet, she would take hold 

 with her hands of a blade of grass, and begin eating at the tip. The 

 spear would rapidly shorten, and seemingly she mu.-t now stoop to 

 finish it, or do it in the ordinary quadrupedal style. Now that was 

 just what she did not choose to do. So when the emergency came, 

 she would stoop down, and in a trice cut the blade off close to the sod 

 with just one nip ; then up again on her feet in a sitting posture, she 

 would finish it in a comfortable and becoming way." * 



In personal appearance the White-footed Mouse is far more at- 

 tractive than the other members of the family. Its prominent, bead- 

 like eyes, large ears, and long tail are striking characteristics, while 

 the rich fawn-color of the sides and back, sharply contrasted with the 

 snowy white of the under parts and feet, combine to produce an 

 exterior of much beauty. Add to this the natural agility and grace 

 of its movements and we have an animal that, by any other name 

 than mouse, would be regarded as one of the most interesting inhab- 

 itants of our forests. 



* American Naturalist, Vol. V, No. 12, Dec., 1871, p. 763. 



