RATS AND MICE FAMILY 



241 



four feet from the ground, and struck upon the 

 dried leaves below. Instantly the owl dropped 

 upon hnii and bore him away in his talons. 



The White-footed Mouse is a very interesting 

 pet. In captivity it resembles in many ways the 

 Flying Squirrel, especially in its fondness for 

 climbing about one's person and hiding in the 

 pockets. During the day it usually remains in its 

 nest, but at twilight it becomes very active and 

 playful. There are many different species of this 

 graceful little rodent ; that is to say. it has 

 adapted itself to its surroundings so completely 



might be expected, a considerable range of varia- 

 tion is shown by the extreme members of this 

 very large series. In color they vary from al- 

 most black to a very pale gray ; and in size from 

 quite small to almost the size of a small house 

 Rat. Considerable variation in structure, such 

 as the length of tail and height of ear is also 

 shown. 



This group is extremely wide in its range and 

 it may be safely said to occur wherever condi- 

 tions are favorable to support higher life. It is 

 found in timbered regions and on the plains, in 



Photograph by West Va. University Experiment Station 



WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE 

 Picture taken as it was scampering down the branches of a pine 



— wherever it may choose to make its home • — 

 as to become differentiated in a great variety of 

 characters. There are recognized north of the 

 Rio Grande some sixty-eight species and sub- 

 species of Mice belonging to this group. As 



areas of heavy snowfall or excessive rain and in 

 the drier deserts. But wherever found it is the 

 same general type, its habits only differing some- 

 what according to its choice of home. 



S. A. LOTTRIDGE. 



LEMMING MOUSE 



Synaptomys cooperi Baird 



General Description.— Rather smaller than the fur; body moderately robust; tail very short; legs 

 True Lemming and superficially very much like the short ; feet of normal proportions ; general color red- 

 Meadow Mouse. Upper incisor with distinct groove dish-brown above, plumbeous gray below. Pelage a 

 near outer edge ; head blunt ; ears nearly hidden in trifle coarse. 



