2?,8 



iMAMAIALS OF AMERICA 



the branch for a moment and then ran gracefully 

 along branches and stems from one bush to 

 another and finally down to the eround, where 



Photograph by S. A. Lottridge 



NEST OF A HARVEST MOUSE 



it disappeared in the tall grass. On examining 

 the nest I fovmd a firm base, evidently an old 

 bird's nest that had been arched over with a sub- 



stantia! roof which left an opening at the side 

 only large enough for my finger. It was neither 

 a verdin's nor a cactus wren's nest, and had 

 evidently been built by the present tenant. When 

 I returned next day. the Mouse was at home, but 

 so sleepy that I merely disturbed him enough to 

 make him come out and sit a moment on the 

 branch, after which I withdrew and let him go 

 back to finish his nap." 



The food of the Harvest Mouse consists prin- 

 cipally of seeds, grain, green vegetation, and. 

 occasionally, fruit. Most of their food must be 

 obtained from wild plants of little or no value 

 to man. In Bexar County, Texas, they were 

 found to be fond of peaches, eating the peach 

 and leaving the stone hanging on the tree ; and 

 at Metlaltoyuca, Alexico, one was caught on a 

 bunch of bananas hanging about eight feet above 

 the ground. Mr. Arthur H. Howell, of the 

 United States Biological Survey, says that onh' 

 rarely is any damage to crops by Harvest Mice 

 reported ; and Bachman, who had studied its 

 habits closely, remarks : " \\'e doubt whether 

 this specie:- is of much injury to the farmer. It 

 consumes but little grain, is more fond of resid- 

 ing near grass fields, on the seeds of which it 

 subsists, than among the wheat fields." 



The breeding season extends from April to 

 October in northern latitudes ; in tropical 

 regions it is probably spread over the whole 

 }-ear. The young produced at a birth number 

 from three to seven and rapidly attain their ma- 

 turity. But owls and other enemies keep their 

 numbers down. 



Other Names. — Deer Mouse. Wood Mouse. 



General Description. — A medium-sized Mouse of 

 normal proportions, slightly larger than the common 

 House Mouse. Nose pointed; head of moderate pro- 

 portions; ears large, prominent, covered with very short 

 hair ; eyes large ; whiskers prominent ; body medium ; 

 tail long, about length of head and body, and well 

 clothed with short hair; limbs slender and of moderate 

 length ; general color above, yellowish-brown ; below, 

 clear white; hair of moderate length and quite soft. 



Dental Formula. — Incisors 



EASTERN WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE 

 Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner) 



Range. — Northeastern Canada from Labrador to 



molars. 



Molars, 



I — 1 

 =i6 



/— . O — O T» 



; Canmes, — — ; Pre- 



Pelage. — .Adults : Sexes identical. Seasonal varia- 

 tion occurring but not especially conspicuous. .'Kbove 

 varying from bister to yellowish-brown ; below clear 

 white, the white meeting the color of the side.^ in a 

 clearly defined lateral line ; feet white ; tail above like 

 back, below white, sharply bicolor. Young : Slate gray. 



Measurements. — Total length. 6.5 inches ; tail verte- 

 brae. 3 inches; hind foot, .8 inch. 



Hudson Bay. and south to northeastern United States. 

 Food. — ."K great variety of seeds, grain, nuts, acorns, 

 leaves and grasses. 



Related Species 



Eastern Deer Mouse. — Pcroinyscns maniculatus 

 maniculatus (Wagner). Typical animal as described 

 above. Northeastern United States and west to Hud- 

 son Bay. 



Arctic White-footed Mouse. — Peromyscus manicu- 

 latus borcalis Mearns. Much shorter tail than East- 

 ern Deer Mouse. Interior of northwest Canada. 



Canada White-footed Mouse. — Peromyscus mani- 

 culatus fircicilis (LeConte). Larger, with longer, more 

 hairy tail and less rusty coloration. New Brunswick 

 south to central New York and western Massachusetts. 



California Deer Mouse, — Peromyscus calif amicus 

 (Gaml)el). Largest of the Deer Mice north of the 

 Rio Grande. Similar to Eastern in general proportions 

 l)".t body much larger (4 inches) ; ears very large; 



