ANIMALS OF ONTARIO. 85 



Family DIFODID^. (The Jumping Mice.) 



Hind legs greatly elongated, adapted for taking long leaps; fore legs 

 short. Tail very long. 



Genus ZAPUS. 



(4) Zapus hudsonius. 



(Jumping Mouse.) 

 Formerly common and generally distributed, but of late years less 

 frequently seen. 



Family MURID^. (The Mice.) 



Representatives of this family are found in all parts of the world ; 

 species of the genus Mus being cosmopolitan, having accompanied man 

 in all his migrations; all are of small size, the Muskrat being the largest 

 found in Canada. Included in it are some of our most injurious farm 

 pests. 



Genus FIBER. 



(5) Fiber zibethicus. 



(Muskrat.) 

 Common everywhere about marshes, rivers, and streams. In marshes 

 it builds houses for winter protection, but in streams it burrows in the 

 banks, sometimes doing much injury to dams and other works constructed 

 to hold water. It is omnivorous, feeding impartially upon animal and 

 vegetable substances. Where fresh-water mussels (Unios) abound they 

 form an important part of this animal's diet. Muskrats' fur when in 

 prime condition is of high quality and if it was not so common would be 

 more valued than it is at present. 



Genus SYNAPTOMYS. 



(*) (6) Synaptomys cooperi. 

 (Lemming Mouse.) 

 Has been found sparingly in western Ontario and northward. 



Genus MICROTUS. 



(*J (7) Microtus pinetorum. 

 (Pine Mouse.) 

 The late Robert Elliott of Plover Mills recorded this mouse as com- 

 mon in the County of Middlesex ; it is probably generally distributed in 

 western Ontario, but has been overlooked. 



