596 



JVA TURA L HIS TOR Y. 



It abounds everywhere, — around the wharves of our seaport towns and in 

 the sewers of the cities ; in our houses and in the barns of the country. 

 In comparison the small and really pretty house-mouse, also of Europeo- 

 Asiatic origin, is of no account. 



We have a large number of native mice, some much like our common 

 domestic mouse, while others show tendencies towards the muskrats and 

 lemmings. The latter include a large number of field-mice, or voles, 

 while among the former are the cotton-rat, the Florida wood-rat, and the 

 pretty little white-footed mouse of our fields. The cotton-rat and the 



Fig. 464. — Mouse (Mus musculus). 



Florida wood-rat are, as their names would indicate, inhabitants of the 

 southern states. The latter species lives in the woods and makes immense 

 nests of twigs and dried leaves in the trees and bushes, or under stones or 

 dilapidated buildings. 



The little white-footed or deer-mouse ranges over the whole United 

 States. It is a pretty little creature, living in the fields, and making its 

 nest of grass and leaves in the bushes. Several species of mice are known 

 to "' sing,' producing a note much like that of a canary. By some this song 

 is supposed to be due to some bronchial or other affection ; but this is cer- 

 tainly not proven. Dr. Lockwood had a white-footed mouse which was a 



