82 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



THE COMMON MOUSE. 



Mrs musculus. 



Mus muaculus. Lin. 12 Ed. p. 83. 



Mouse. Penn. Arct. Zool. Vol. 1, p. 131. Say - , Long's Exped. Vol. 1, p. 262. Harlan, p. 119. Godman, Am. Nal. 

 Hist. Vol. 2, p. 84. Emmons, Mass. Report, 1840, p. 62. 



Characteristics. Dusky grey, above, with a slight tinge of yellow ; beneath ash grey. Ears 

 about half the length of the head. Tail nearly as long as the body. 



This familiar little species has also been introduced from Europe into this country, since 

 its discovery. It has every where followed the footsteps of man, and is now extended to our 

 most western settlements. It breeds several times, or what is more probable, at various sea- 

 sons of the year, bringing forth from six to ten at a litter. It may be treated rather as a trouble- 

 some than as an extensively injurious animal. It is omnivorous, and lives equally on flesh 

 and vegetables ; apparently, however, preferring the latter. 



THE JUMPING MOUSE. 



Mus LEUcoprs. 



PLATE XXIII. FIG. 1. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



The Rustic Mouse. Godman, Am. Nat. Hist. 



Mus leucopus. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 1, p. 142. 



Arvicola emmonsi. Emmons, Mass. Report, p. 61. 



Characteristics. Brownish above ; feet and all beneath white. Ears large. Tail hairy, as 

 long or longer than the body. Length six inches. 



Description. Head rather large, with a pointed muzzle. Eyes moderate. Ears large, 

 rounded above, membranous and naked on the upper margin within and without. Whiskers 

 numerous, blackish brown at the base, whitish at the tips, longer than the head. Fore feet 

 four-toed, with five tubercles ; the thumb is rudimentary, not furnished with a claw. Hind 

 feet an inch and a half long, with five toes, and with short, feeble and curved claws nearly 

 concealed by long white hairs. Tail slender, hairy, subquadrate, slightly tapering. Incisors 

 not grooved. Molars tuberculated, the first in each jaw largest ; they gradually diminish in 

 size to the most posterior, which, when worn, presents a circular disk on the crown, and is 

 scarcely tuberculated. Fur fine and rather long. 



Color. Light reddish brown above, intermixed with some entirely black hairs along the 

 back, which gives to that region a much darker appearance. The light reddish fur above is 

 dark slate at the roots ; it is separated from the light color beneath by a tolerably well defined, 

 and occasionally a darker line. All beneath, including the feet, the anterior, inner and poste- 

 rior parts of the thighs, and the inferior and lateral portions of the tail, pure white. This 

 color is plumbeous at the base. 



