THE MICE AND RATS 313 



slightly different geographical races are scattered over the 

 rest of the country. 



As soon as the snow disappears in early spring, it is easy 

 to find the winter runways of the Common Meadow Mouse 

 in almost any low grassland. They often cover the sur- 

 face with an interlacing network that shows how indus- 

 triously the mice have been at work beneath the snow. 

 Should you follow up these runways carefully, you would 

 probably come to shelter nests made of grasses which 

 served for temporary quarters through the winter. And 

 if you should explore late in spring or in the summer, you 

 would often find holes leading to the underground nests in 

 which the young are reared. The nests are likely to be 

 lined with the soft silk from the milkweed pods or the silky 

 seeds of cat-tail flags. 



Meadow mice find their safest home along the borders of 

 swamps or other lowlands or in neglected meadows where 

 there is a rank growth of grass. The shelter of the grass 

 protects them from enemies and enables them to forage 

 far and wide. It also serves for warmth in winter and 

 furnishes abundant material for nest building. When the 

 snow is deep, however, the mice tunnel beneath it in all 

 directions, seeking orchards and grain fields where food 

 may be found. 



In the matter of food the meadow mice are not very par- 

 ticular. They will eat almost any succulent vegetable mate- 

 rial. They are especially fond of the swollen roots of the 

 wild white morning glory, large numbers of which are often 

 stored in underground piles. David E. Lantz once found 

 a pile of these thus stored away that weighed more than 

 a pound. The roots, stems, leaves, and seeds of most 

 vegetable, forage, and grain crops are freely eaten. In 

 winter they find the bark of trees and shrubs one of the 



