186 BULLETIN NO VII. 



song was poured forth while at play, that is, while in actual 

 activity ; and, take the wheel-play, for instance, when really 

 in quite violent exercise. A thing, too, which much surprised 

 me, was, that often when eating she sang and ate at the sanae- 

 time, literally in the same breath. This singular habit, so 

 suggestive of a great physiological difficulty, led to an in- 

 cident, which caused considerable merriment for those who 

 witnessed it. I had been examining some insect larvae on a 

 twig of black alder. Without any real motive, a bit of the 

 twig, about an inch long, and an eighth of an inch thick, was 

 offered Hespie. She was delighted, and at once began in her 

 usual pretty way, sitting up, to eat the bark, although it is very 

 bitter. Thus she sat "bolt upright;" and the manner in which 

 she held this little black stick in both her hands up to her mouth, 

 at the precise angle at whith a fife is held, although nibbling 

 away, yet singing at the same time, it looked so like a little 

 fifer playing on an ebony fife that laughter was irresistible at 

 the comical sight." 



"Wishing to see how this Hesperomys would behave in com- 

 pany, I put into her cage a young domestic mouse about one- 

 third grown. She was asleep in her little box. When she 

 awoke it was a pretty sight. What animation! How the black 

 eyes started and sparkled! To me they seemed to snap with 

 fire. The whole frame was in a quiver first of astonishment, 

 then with rage. It was not a run but a jump which she made 

 at the little involuntary intruder, who received a nip that made 

 it squeal in terror. We removed the little captive, who was so 

 astonished that it was quite content to lie in our hand. Its ter- 

 ror had won our pity, and we restored to it its liberty. " * * * 

 * 'And now we ask are these phenomena that have been herein 

 described the result of an abnormal condition of things or not? 

 How much truth is there in the theory of some that the singing 

 of these mice is the result of disease, or of some bronchial dis- 

 turbance? In my opinion the following reasons disprove the 

 truth of any such theory : 



1. The exquisite animal enjoyment and actual physical con- 

 dition, for it is fat and perfect in pelage and form, indicating high 

 health. Every form of bronchial disease is, in its most ordi^ 

 nary effect, depressing to the animal spirits. 



2. When engaged in song, the exercise reaches to the very 

 depth of the chest, as is so often seen in the lowing of kine, 

 where the muscles may be observed in action for the whole 

 length of the abdomen. Persons afflicted bronchially avoid 

 deep vocal exercise. 



