WILD MICE. 65 
being about three inches long. It has a lithe, slender form, 
and quick movement; its eyes are large and prominent, its 
nose sharp, and its ears high, round, and thin. The fore-feet 
are hardly half as long as the hinder ones, and the tail is as 
long as, or longer than, the body, and covered with close 
hairs. The fur is soft, dense, and glossy, reddish-brown 
above and white below, while the feet are all white. 
The most ill-looking of the lot is the meadow-mouse, 
which reminds me of a miniature bear. Its coat is dirty 
-brownish-black, not even turning white in winter; its head 
is short, and its nose blunt; all its four feet are short, and 
its tail is a mere stump, scarcely long enough to reach the 
ground. Nevertheless, it is a very interesting mouse, and 
able to make an immense deal of trouble. 
In general habits the three wild ones are pretty much 
alike, though some prefer dry, while others choose wet, 
ground; some keep chiefly in the woods, others on the 
prairies, and so on. All the species burrow more or less, 
and some build elaborate nests. Their voices are fine, low, 
and squeaking, but the meadow-mouse is a great chatterbox, 
and the white-foot has been known more than once really 
to sing tunes of his own very nicely. Each one manifests 
immense courage in defending its young against harm; but 
I believe only the meadow-mice are accused of being really 
