WILD LIFE OF ORCHARD AND FIELD 



didae, or jumping-mice, and the Muridae, or fam- 

 ily of the true rats and mice. 



The former tribe contains two species, Zapus 

 hudsonius and Zapus insignis — the latter being 

 somewhat larger than the former, and inclining 

 more to the woods than its relative, which is main- 

 ly a mouse of the valleys and meadows. Both 

 these species have cheek - pouches and are classi- 

 fied near the gophers. 



These jumping-mice are the prettiest of all the 

 Eastern wild species. If you should look at a kan- 

 garoo through the wrong end of a telescope, you 

 would have a very fair idea of our little friend's 

 form, with hind legs and feet very long and slender, 

 and fore-legs very short; so that when he sits up 

 they seem like little paws held before him in a co- 

 quettish way. His tail is often twice the length 

 of his body, and is tipped with a brush of long 

 hairs. He has a knowing look in his face, with 

 its upright, furry ears and bright eyes. Being 

 dark brown above, yellowish brown on the sides, 

 and white underneath, with white stockings, he 

 makes a gay figure among his more soberly dressed 

 companions; yet his fur is notably coarse and 

 rough. Various names are given him, such as 

 the wood-mouse, kangaroo-mouse, and others. 



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