THE MEADOW MOUSE 79 



This is our most common representative of this section of the fam- 

 ily; and, in addition to the characters above mentioned, it is to be 

 distinguished from the following closely allied form by the number 

 of teats, which is eight. In winter the fur is longer and duller col- 

 ored than in summer. 



FIG. 19. Meadow Mouse caught in a guillotine trap. (From U. S. Department 



of Agriculture.) 



The meadow mice proper, of which there are three forms occur- 

 ring in the state, and of which this is the first to be discussed, are to 

 be recognized in general by their stout bodies, the short, round and 

 hairy tail, the blunt, rounded muzzle, and the short ears, which in 

 winter are almost concealed by the fur. The fur is long, that of the 

 back being mixed with still longer hairs. 



Habits, Distribution, Etc. The meadow mouse is common 

 throughout the state in moist meadows and in the grassy borders 

 of marshes and wooded swamps. It is not uncommonly found in 

 dry pastures, cornfields, uncultivated or waste fields, and in open 

 spaces bordering timber land. Most meadows are infested with these 

 animals, and in the proper situations their trails are quite evident. 

 In swamps these paths often cross mud flats and even shallow water, 

 and where deep snow has melted or where dry grass has been burned 

 off the network of runways can be seen without difficulty. In the 

 construction of these trails meadow mice utilize many kinds of low 

 shelter, such as fallen weeds, leaves, and grass under which the 

 trails take on the nature of half-tunnels. These trails lead to the 

 roots of food plants and to underground nests, and are also used as 



