Feb., 1912. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 211 



containing four young, as early as the 3rd of April, and as late as the 

 4th of October. I have also taken a female early in June that was 

 nursing her second brood. Hence it is clear that several litters are 

 produced in a season. 



"The flesh of the Red-backed Mouse is tender and well flavored."* 

 Kennicott in describing the habits of this mouse says: "I captured 

 a number of this species, which, with several deer-mice (Hesperomys 

 leucopus) came into a shanty to feed upon some rice which lay in bags on 

 the floor. These Arvicol« never having been injured, were quite tame, 

 and ran about the room without much regard for the presence of the 

 occupants. In feeding, they sat upon the hind feet and haunches, in 

 the manner of the Arvicola austerus, holding the grains of rice with 

 the fore-paw, and sometimes grasping a grain in one paw only. . . . 

 In climbing, they surpassed all other meadow-mice, running up the 

 corners of the shanty to the roof, and over the rough logs as if perfectly 

 at ease. In the woods, too, I found a nest in the rotten stub of a tree, 

 several feet from the ground. They never moved by leaps, but trotted 

 with graceful gliding movement, like the Arvicola austerus. I was 

 particularly struck by their diurnal habits. ... I sought in vain 

 for any indications of regular pathways under the leaves or grass, like 

 those of our other species, and was finally induced to believe that it 

 constructed none. 



"I found a number of the nests of the red-backed meadow-mice, 

 and, with the exception of one placed in a stump, they were all situated 

 on the top of the ground, under logs. They were slightly formed of a 

 small quantity of soft leaves and grass. . . . The Arvicola Gapperi 

 is, apparently, very prolific. I found eight young in a nest and within 

 several rods of this a family of five or six, probably a month or two older, 

 and which I concluded to be an earlier litter of the same parent." 

 (/. c, pp. 89-90.) 



Specimens examined from Wisconsin: 



Wisconsin — Solon Springs, Douglas Co., 25; Sayner, Vilas Co., 10; 

 Conover, Vilas Co., 5; Lac Vieux Desert, Vilas Co., 7; Spread 

 Eagle, Florence Co., 4; (M. P. M.) Burnett Co., 4; Douglas 

 Co., 2; Marinette Co., 2; Vilas Co., 2; (O. C.) Fisher Lake, 

 Iron Co., 13; Oak Creek, Milwaukee Co., i; (S. C.) Beaver Dam, 

 Dodge Co., I ;= 76. 



* Mamm. Adirondack Reg., 1886, p. 271-72. 



