WILD MICE. 63 



being about three inches long. It has a lithe, slender form, 

 and quick movement ; its eyes are large and prominent, its 

 nose sharp, and its ears high, round, and thin. The fore-feet 

 are hardly half as long as the hinder ones, and the tail is as 

 long as, or longer than, the body, and covered with close 

 hairs. The fur is soft, dense, and glossy, reddish - brown 

 above and white below, while the feet are all white. 



The most ill -looking of the lot is the meadow-mouse, 

 which reminds me of a miniature bear. Its coat is dirty 

 brownish-black, not even turning white in winter; its head 

 is short, and its nose blunt ; all its four feet are short, and 

 its tail is a mere stump, scarcely long enough to reach the 

 ground. Nevertheless, it is a very interesting mouse, and 

 able to make an immense deal of trouble. 



In general habits the three wild ones are pretty much 

 alike, though some prefer dry, while others choose wet, 

 ground; some keep chiefly in the woods, others on the 

 prairies, and so on. All the species burrow more or less, 

 and some build elaborate nests. Their voices are fine, low, 

 and squeaking, but the meadow-mouse is a great chatterbox, 

 and the white-foot has been known more than once really 

 to sing tunes of his own very nicely. Each one manifests 

 immense courage in defending its young against harm ; but 

 I believe only the meadow-mice are accused of being really 



