THE PANTRY MOUSE 47 



related in Vol. V. of The Standard Natural 

 History. All observers speak of the trilling, 

 warbling, bird-like character of the notes. 



"It was not much of a song," writes a Detroit 

 lady, "as songs go, but still a distinct musical effort. 

 Sometimes it would run up an octave and end with 

 a decided attempt at a trill. Sometimes it would try- 

 to trill all the notes. ... Its favorite position 

 when singing was an erect one, standing on its hind 

 feet, and holding by its forward ones to the wall or 

 a bracket, almost invariably turning its face towards 

 us. It remained with us several weeks, and at length 

 became so familiar as to appear to enjoy company, 

 seemingly putting forth all its strength to amuse us 

 with its little song, which improved daily in tone and 

 volume, but not in compass. Its voice became so 

 clear that we could frequently hear it in the parlor 

 that opened out of the dining room." 



Most persons regard this singing as not due 

 to disease, but quite natural. "There seems 

 good reason for believing," in the language of 

 Ernest Thompson Seton, "that house-mice, 

 and, indeed, all mice, will at times express their 

 sense of well-being in a series of complicated 

 sounds that correspond in every way with the 

 singing of birds." 



