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WILD MICE 



ONE of the prettiest and most abundant of 

 our native mice is the deer mouse, also called 

 the white-footed mouse; a very beautiful crea- 

 ture, nocturnal in his habits, with large ears, 

 and large, fine eyes full of a wild, harmless 

 look. He is daintily marked, with white feet 

 and a white belly. When disturbed by day he 

 is very easily captured, having none of the cun- 

 ning or viciousness of the common Old World 

 mouse. He is found in both fields and woods. 



It is he who, high in the hollow trunk of some 

 tree, lays by a store of beech-nuts for winter use. 

 Every nut is carefully shelled, and the cavity 

 that serves as storehouse lined with grass and 

 leaves. The wood-chopper frequently squanders 

 this precious store. I have seen half a peck 

 taken from one tree, as clean and white as if put 

 up by the most delicate hands, as they were. 

 How long it must have taken the little creature 

 to collect this quantity, to hull them one by one, 

 and convey them up to his fifth-story chamber ! 



