594 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



error which as early as 1851 was partly pointed out by Audubon 

 and Bachman in the following paragraph :^^ "We are not, 

 however, to argue from this that the young immediately after 

 birth become attached to the teats in the manner of the young 

 Opossums, and are incapable of relaxing their hold; on the 

 contrary, the female we had in confinement only dragged her 

 young along with her when she was suddenly disturbed and 

 when in the act of giving suck; but when she came out of her 

 own accord, we observed that she had relieved herself from 

 this encumbrance. This was also the case with the other 

 species referred to [viz.: White-footed Mouse, Florida Rat, 

 and Flying-squirrel]." 



Most of our Mice have been seen carrying their young in 

 this way, but no one ever saw the mother doing it deliberately, 

 calmly, and comfortably, as though it were her regular mode 

 of transport. It seems only to occur when the old one is 

 alarmed while suckling the brood. Then she dashes forth 

 instinctively, and they hold on instinctively, though not very 

 effectually for any length of time. The only exception to this 

 that I find is stated by E. A. Preble, who writes me: "I have 

 caught Microtus in traps with young attached to the teats; 

 near the burrow, however." 



HOME- One of my purposes throughout has been to learn the 



home-life and the social side of each animal. But there is 

 wofully little of it on record. If in the present case we take 

 out the paragraphs about the female and young, we find 

 the rest of the history relates chiefly to the creature's struggle 

 for life. 



Whether or not it has any social amusements I cannot 

 ascertain. The only discoverable suggestion of such a thing 

 is in the following sentence quoted by Dekay" from Jesse 

 Booth of Orange County, N. Y. : 



"I once saw two of them [Jumping-mice], between sunset 

 and dark, jumping up in rapid succession, and making a 

 chirping noise like sparrows." 



^* Quad. N. A., 1849, Vol. II, p. 254. »^Zool. N. Y., 1842, Pt. I, p. 72. 



LIFE 



