orchards of young trees have been killed by them. It is 

 estimated that the mice of the Genus Microtus cause 

 an annual loss of over three million dollars to Ameri- 

 can farmers. 



The meadow mouse is about seven inches long 

 and the tail is not quite two inches in length. The body 

 is somewhat heavier than that of the house mouse. 

 The head is large and blunt; the ears are barely per- 

 ceptible above the fur; legs are short, the fur is long, 

 and overlaid with coarse hairs; the soles of the feet are 

 naked and each foot has six plantar tubercles. 



The sexes are identical in size and color. The 

 summer coat varies from a dark chestnut brown to a 

 light yellowish brown above, with a number of coarse 

 black hairs along the back. The under parts are a 

 smoky gray slightly tinged with light brown. The feet 

 are brownish. The tail is brown above and somewhat 

 paler beneath. In winter the general coloration is 

 duller and more uniformly gray. 



The Meadow Jumping Mouse: Kangaroo Mouse 



Zapus finds onius atnericanus 



This interesting creature may be readily identified 

 by its extremely long hind legs; very long tail, which is 

 one and one-half times the body length ; short fore legs ; 

 and cheek pouches into which it can stufif considerable 

 food. 



It is yellowish brown in color and has a very per- 

 ceptible black band running down the middle of the 

 back due to the presence of many long, shining black- 

 tipped hairs. The sides are even a brighter hue and 

 the under sides and feet are white. The dividing line 

 between the upper and the under sides is sharply 



-«>C 137 ><5<- 



