Mammal Study 



225 



The tail is also of some use, when the mouse jumps directly upwards. 

 The hind legs are very much longer and stronger than the front legs. The 

 hind feet are also much longer and larger than the front feet ; and although 

 the mouse, when it makes its remarkable jumps, depends upon its strong 

 hind legs, I am sure that often the tail is used as a brace to guide and 

 assist the leap. The feet are free from hairs but are downy; the hind 

 foot has three front toes, a long toe behind on the outside and a short one 

 on the inside. The claws are fairly long and very sharp so that they are 

 able to cling to almost anything but glass. When exploring, a mouse 

 stands on its hind feet, folding its little front paws under its chin while it 

 reaches up ready to catch anything in sight; it can stretch up to an 

 amazing height. It feeds upon almost anything which people like to eat 

 and, when eating, holds its food in its front paws like a squirrel. 



The thin, velvety ears are flaring cornucopias for taking in sound; the 

 large, rounded outer ear can be moved forward or back to test the direc- 

 tion of the noise. The eyes are like shining, black beads; and if a 

 mouse can wink, it does it so rapidly as not to be discernible. The nose 

 is long, inquisitive, and always sniffing for new impressions. The 

 whiskers are delicate and probably sensitive. The mouth is furnished 

 with two long, curved gnawing teeth at the front of each jaw, then a bare 

 space, and four grinding teeth on each side, above and below, like the 

 teeth of woodchucks and other rodents. The gnawing teeth are very 

 strong and enable the mouse to gnaw through board partitions and other 

 obstacles. 



The energy with which the mouse cleans itself is inspiring to behold. 

 It nibbles its fur and licks it with fervor, reaching around so as to get at it 

 from behind, and tak- 

 ing hold with its little 

 hands to hold firm 

 while it cleans. When 

 washing its face and 

 head, it uses both 

 front feet, licking 

 them clean and rub- 

 bing them both simul- 

 taneously from behind 

 the ears down over 

 the face. It takes its 

 hind foot in both front 

 feet and nibbles and 

 licks it. It scratches 

 the back of its head 

 with its hind foot. 



Young mice are 

 small, downy, pink 

 and blind when born. 

 The mother makes for 

 them a nice, soft nest 

 of pieces of cloth, 

 paper, grass, or what- 

 ever is at hand; the 

 nest is round like 



Young mice, blind, pink and hairless. 



