THE SPINY POCKET MICE 63 



of the many spiny, somewhat porcupine-like 

 hairs which cover their backs, particularly on 

 the rump and sides. The ears are small com- 

 pared with the wood rat's, but similarly well 

 set up. Each has at its entrance five tiny stiff 

 black hairs which are doubtless protective in 

 function. The eyes are quite small. The end 

 of the little nose, which is bare of hair, is ever 

 in motion; the shovel-like tip is used as a feeler. 

 The body is little longer than half the length of 

 one's thumb, and when these little fellows are 

 curled up in sleep they are scarcely bigger than a 

 good-sized marble or a walnut. The tail, which 

 is longer than the entire body, is covered with 

 many fine, soft hairs and has at its end a small 

 brush or pencil of hairs, the sight of which 

 would doubtless have delighted the youthful 

 Benjamin West, who as a little boy, you will 

 remember, plucked hair from the cat's tail to 

 make for himself a paintbrush. The pocket 

 mouse's tail would have served the young artist 

 quite as well. The tail is kept well off the 

 ground most of the time, but occasionally you 

 will see marks in the dust showing where it has 

 dragged. When the mice jump, the tail is sud- 



