96 



THE GNAWERS 



of rushes and mud, and the long tunnels in river banks. 

 The harvest mouse forms a dainty nest among the grain 

 above the ground, while the deer mouse (Fig. 79) is a 



most attractive little 

 animal, and is often 

 kept as a pet. The 

 jumping mice (Fig. 

 80) are graceful 

 creatures with pow- 

 erful hind legs and 



Fig. 79. — The Deer Mouse. 



long 



tails, leaping 

 great distances like miniature kangaroos. 



Equally interesting are the jerboas, while the American 

 pocket mouse, dipodomys, is a fascinating little creature. 

 It has a large head, bright, expressive eyes, long mus- 

 tachios, and a slender tail wdth a white stripe and tuft. 



Fig. 80. — The Jumping Mouse. 



Its hind legs are long and powerful, its fore legs are dimin- 

 utive. In fact, it is a diminutive kangaroo in appearance. 

 They are common along the Sierra Madre in California, 



