60 FRIENDS WORTH KNOWING. 



These four mice differ in shape, color, size, and habits, and 

 of the second and third there are several varieties in differ- 

 ent parts of the country. The soft, brownish-gray coat of 

 the house-mouse you know very well ; or, if you do not, 

 take the next one you catch and look 'at it closely. It is as 

 clean as your pet squirrel, and just as pretty. See how 

 dainty are the little feet, how keen the black beads of eyes, 

 how sharp and white the fine small teeth, how delicate the 

 pencillings of the fur ! 



Prettiest of all is the long-legged jumping-mouse. If you 

 should look at a kangaroo through the wrong end of a tele- 

 scope, 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 coquettish 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 un- 

 derneath, with white stockings, he makes a gay figure 

 among his more soberly dressed companions. Various 

 names are given him ; such as the deer-mouse, wood-mouse, 

 jumping wood-mouse, and others. 



The white-foot is somewhat larger than the house-mouse ; 



