Feb., 1910.] Ohio Species of Mice. 7 1 



on the west nearly to central Ohio on the east. The first speci- 

 m.ens recorded for the state were taken at London, Madison 

 county where a male and female and three young were procured 

 in 1906. These specimens were all together under a log but 

 there was no indication of a nest near at hand. The prairie 

 white-footed mouse is distinctly smaller than the common white- 

 footed species, color darker, ears and feet smaller and the tail 

 much shorter. When one has an acquaintance with both they 

 appear very distinct, but the difference is not conspicuous 

 enough to prevent confusion at all times. Osgood includes all 

 of western Ohio within the range of this mouse. 



In most of the recent publications including this variety it is 

 treated as Peromyscus inichiganensis (Audubon and Bachman), 

 but Osgood shows that this is not correct. 



Oryzomys palustris (Harlan). Rice-field Mouse. This animal 

 is called a rat by some authors but as the onlv difference that 

 exists between a rat and a mouse is a matter of size, it is just 

 as acceptable to call it a mouse as many do. In size close to 

 that of a half grown common rat and appearing much like that 

 animal, although the tail is longer, the coloration browner and 

 there is a white fringe of hairs on the lower part of the ear. 



The Ohio records of this species are rather meager but there 

 is conclusive evidence that it once inhabited the state, even 

 though it may not at the present time. Bra^'ton has the follow- 

 ing to sav: " It has been identified bv Mr. Frank Langdon with 

 some hesitation, on the strength of the posterior half of a small 

 rat taken from the stomach of a hawk at Madisonville, Ohio." 

 Brayton afterward examined the specimen and found the feet 

 and tail answered the description of the rice-field mouse in 

 detail. 



Professor AV. C. Mills while engaged in directing excavations 

 at Baum Village Site near Chillicothe, Ohio, procured dozens of 

 the skulls of this species at different depths. He states that 

 other parts of the skeletons were observed and that it appeared 

 as if the mice had died in their burrows. There is no way of 

 deciding as to the age of these remains and so it cannot be stated 

 what the relation to their surroundings might have been. I give 

 these peculiar records because it is desired that any one in a 

 position to give information on the rice-field mouse in Ohio may 

 know the facts and if possible aid us in procuring more convincing 

 proof. 



Mus musculus Linnaeus. House Mouse. The members of 

 the genus Mus which includes the house mouse, brown rat and 

 black rat are all introduced into America and are the very worst 

 of household pests. They are likely to multiply rapidly in any 

 place where food products are stored or where they can find 



