266 MAMMALIA. 



Its disposition is in perfect harmony with its attractive appearance, 

 for even the flying squirrel is not more gentle and affectionate. 

 When first captured it rarely offers to bite, and within a few hours 

 will generally eat from the hand. It manifests neither fear nor 

 suspicion while in its box or on one's person, but if let loose in a 

 large room is frightened when approached, and seeks to hide. If 

 given the opportunity, it is pretty sure to select some particular 

 pocket for its home. It is also fond of running up one's sleeves, and 

 when pinched by the movements of the arm will never think of 

 biting. 



A few years ago I had a tame White-footed Mouse to which I had 

 become considerably attached. During the day it never left my 

 person, and at night was alwa) s placed in a large glass jar with an 

 abundance of cotton. It would eat almost anything offered, sitting 

 on its haunches on my hand or shoulder, and would eagerly lap 

 water or milk from a glass, or from a finger wet in the same. It 

 was scrupulously neat, continually washing its face and cleaning its 

 soft fur. Many times each day it would reach back and grasp its 

 long tail, which, guided and manipulated by the fore-paws, was sev- 

 eral times in succession drawn for its entire length through the mouth. 

 When let loose on the snow it invariably burrowed down with great 

 rapidity. One clear cold clay in midwinter, the temperature being 

 many degrees below zero, I started on my usual snow-shoe walk 

 with the Mouse asleep in my coat pocket. I had gone some distance 

 and forgotten its presence, when a faint cry of distress warned me 

 that all was not right. It responded to my call only by another cry 

 of pain, fainter even than the first. On taking it from my pocket, it 

 gave me a slight nip, and almost immediately expired. It was very 

 cold, and in a few minutes was frozen through. 



In the selection of sites for their nests scarcely less individuality 

 is shown than in the choice of their haunts. Those that live in the 

 deep forests commonly build in holes in trees or logs, or in the roots 

 of stumps ; while those that dwell in open fields excavate chambers 



