THE RODENTS, OR GNAWING ANIMALS 159 



Photo by A. S. Rudland c Suns 



SHORT-TAILED HUTIA 



The butias are another group of octodonts, found in the West India 

 Islands 



of reeds piled in a mound, in the lakes and 

 swamps. The body is only 12 inches long, 

 but the fur is thick and close, and much used 

 for lining coats and cloaks. The vast chains of 

 rivers and lakes in Canada make that country 

 the favourite home of the musk-rat. This crea- 

 ture lives upon roots of aquatic plants, fresh- 

 water-mussels, and stems of juicy herbs. Be- 

 sides making the domed houses of grass, reeds, 

 and mud, it also burrows in the banks of 

 streams. There it makes rather an elaborate 

 home, with numerous passages leading to the 

 water. The odour of musk is very strong even 

 in the skin. The tail is narrow and almost 

 naked. This species is the largest of the vole 

 group. 



THE TYPICAL RATS AND MICE. 



These animals were originally an Old 

 World group. Though the brown rat is now 

 common in America, it is believed to have 

 come originally from China. 



A very large number of animals are now almost dependent on man and his belongings. 

 Such creatures are said to be " commensalistic," or eaters at the same table. They are often 

 very unwelcome guests, whether they are flies, sparrows, or cockroaches ; but probably the least 

 welcome of all are the rats and mice. The BROWN RAT is the best known of any. It has come 

 into worse repute than usual of late, because it is now certain that it harbours the plague-bacillus, 

 and communicates the disease to man. Its habits and appearance need no description. The 

 BLACK RAT is the older and smaller species indigenous in Europe, which the brown rat has 

 almost extirpated from England. A few old houses still hold the black rat, and there are always 

 a few wild ones at the Zoological Gardens which feed in the animals' houses. The BLACK-AND- 

 WHITE RAT (not the albino white rat) kept tame in this country is probably a domesticated form 

 of the ALEXANDRINE RAT of Egypt. 



The HOUSE-MOUSE is now found in all parts 

 of the world to which Europeans have access. 

 In England its main home is in the corn-ricks. 

 Were the farmers to thresh the grain, as is done in 

 the United States, as soon .as it is cut, mice would 

 be far less common. Besides these parasitic mice, 

 there are a host of field- and forest-mice in this 

 and other countries. One of the best-known Eng- 

 lish species is the HARVEST-MOUSE, which makes 

 a globular nest of grass in the wheat-fields, at- 

 tached to stems of corn or weeds. In this the 

 young are born. In winter the mouse lives in 

 holes in banks, and lays up a store of kernels 

 and grain. The WOOD-MOUSE is larger than the 

 former, or than the HOUSE-MOUSE. It is yellow- 

 ish brown in colour, lays up a great store of 

 winter food, and is itself the favourite prey of the 

 weasel. 



Bj permitiitn of the Hon. Walter Rothschild^ Tring 



PORCUPINE 



The common porcupine is found in North America, Italy, 

 Sfain, and North Africa 





