512 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



Merriam says ^^ it feeds "upon beechnuts and a variety of 

 seeds, berries, and roots, and also, at certain times in the 

 winter season, upon the bark of shrubs and trees. The beech, 

 maple, ash, and bass suffer most severely from its attacks and 

 in the order named. The bark is generally removed in ir- 

 regular areas from the large roots just above the ground, but 

 sometimes saplings and even trees a foot or more in diameter 

 are completely girdled to the height of three or four feet." 



Like all of its order that do not hibernate, it lays up stores 

 of roots and nuts and seeds for winter consumption. 

 DRINK A curious case which seems to show that these Mice are 



in the habit of travelling a long way for water is thus recorded 

 by Kennicott: ''Though I collected several specimens of this 

 species, together with a great number of Zapus hudsonius 

 drowned in a hole a half mile from the woods, I saw none on 

 the prairie at any other time; whence it is inferred that they are 

 generally confined to the woods." ^^ 



ON THE Although, as we have seen, it can and does climb a little, 



GROUND . . , ° , , J ,Tj,, . ^ 



It is at home only on the ground. When at its fastest pace it 

 goes at a steady trot, not bounding like a Deermouse. This 

 difference of progress is exactly paralleled among small birds, 

 and for the same reasons. The Shore-lark and such ground 

 birds are steppers; the sparrows and tree birds are hoppers. 

 I have no drawing of the trail to illustrate this species, but 

 it undoubtedly is much like that of the Microtus, which see. 



ENEMIES Its enemies are all living creatures; for those that do not 



eat it, eat its food, or destroy its shelter, and so crowd it out. 



RELA- As this is a woodland species disappearing; with the forest, it 



TION TO . . . ... 



MAN has but little bearing on agriculture. The only mischief it em- 

 barks in is the girdling of forest trees, and this has never yet been 

 observed on a scale large enough to be serious. Merriam re- 

 marks that its flesh "is tender and well-flavoured," which state- 

 ment the lovers of wild meat may construe into a gentle hint. 



'" Ibid. >' Quad., 111., 1858, p. 90. 



