164 Order RODENTIA 



Peromyscus gossypinus megacephalus (Rhoads). The range of 

 the species is an irregular area that embraces most of the south- 

 eastern states, jfig. 88. It includes northward extensions into 

 northeastern Virginia and southern Illinois. Its westward limit 

 is eastern Texas. 



PEROMYSCUS NUTTALLI (Harlan) 

 Golden Mouse 



Description. — The golden mouse, fig. 91, is reddish brown 

 or golden on the upper parts and white or cream colored on the 

 lower parts. The ears are red and the feet are white. The 

 eyes are large and conspicuous, the cheek pouches are thin and 

 inconspicuous, and the tail is slightly shorter than the body. 



Length measurements: head and body 3]/^-3]/^ inches (83-89 

 mm.); tail 2%-Z]4 inches (67-83 mm.); over-all 5^-6^ 

 inches (150-172 mm.); hind foot 34 inch (18-20 mm.); ear 

 from notch about ^ inch (16-18 mm.). 



The skull is 25-27 mm. (about 1 inch) long. The infraorbital 

 plate is straight along its front margin, fig. 74^. Dental for- 

 mula: I 1/1, C 0/0, Pm 0/0, M 3/3. 



The following combination of characters serves to distinguish 

 the golden mouse from all other species of Peromyscus in Illi- 

 nois: reddish brown or golden color of both young and adults, 

 red ears, thin cheek pouches, and straight infraorbital plate. 



Life History. — The bright-colored golden mouse is as much 

 at home in trees, vines, or bushes as it is on the ground. It con- 

 structs its home in a thicket of honeysuckle, greenbrier, or poison 

 ivy, or in the crotch or branches of a tree or bush, fig. 3. In 

 Illinois, it apparently prefers the thick timber bordering cypress 

 swamps. 



Its nest, fig. 91, is about 8 inches in diameter and globular in 

 shape ; the single entrance is closed except when the mouse is 

 entering or leaving the nest. The inner lining is of soft, finely 

 shredded material. Several golden mice, probably a family 

 group, may occupy a single nest at the same time. Young may 

 be brought forth in a nest at any time between March and 

 October. A female may have more than one litter each year, 

 with two or three young in each litter. 



The golden mouse spends much of its time in vines and trees, 

 and it is, as might be expected, an adept, sure-footed climber. 



