2 28 Handbook of Nature-Study 



LESSON LV 

 The House Mouse 



Leading thought — The mouse is fitted by color, form, agility and habits 

 to thrive upon the food which it steals from man, and to live in the midst 

 of civilized people. 



Method — A mouse cage can be easily made of wire window-screen 

 tacked upon a wooden frame. I have even used aquarium jars with wire 

 screen covers, and by placing one jar upon another, opening to opening, 

 and then laying them horizontal, the mouse can be transferred to a fresh 

 cage without trouble, and thus the mousey odor can be obviated, while 

 the little creature is being studied. A little water in a wide-necked bottle 

 can be lowered into this glass house by a string, and the food can be given 

 in like manner. Stripped paper should be put into the jar for the comfort 

 of the prisoner; a stiff string hanging down from the middle of the cage 

 will afford the prisoner a chance to show his feats as an acrobat. 



Observations — i . Why is the color of the mouse of special benefit to it ? 

 Do you think it protects it from the sight of its enemies? Can you see a 

 mouse easily as it runs across the room? What is the nature of the fur of 

 a mouse? 



2. How long is a mouse's tail as compared with its body? What is the 

 covering of the tail? Of what use to the mouse is this long, ridged tail? 

 Watch the mouse carefully and discover, if you can, the use of the tail in 

 climbing. 



3. Is the mouse a good jumper? Are the hind legs long and strong 

 when compared with the front legs? How high do you think a mouse 

 can jump? Do you think it uses its tail as an aid in jumping? How 

 much of the legs are covered with hair? Compare the front and hind feet. 

 What sort of claws have they? How does the mouse use its feet when 

 climbing the string? How can it climb up the side of a wall? 



4. Describe the eyes. Do you think the mouse can see very well? 

 Does it wink ? AVhat is the shape of the ears ? Do you think it can hear 

 well ? Can it move its ears forward or backward ? 



5. What is the shape of the snout? Of what advantage is this? 

 Note the whiskers. What is their use? Describe the mouth. Do you 

 know how the teeth are arranged? For what other use than to bite food 

 does the mouse use its teeth? What other animals have their teeth 

 arranged like those of the mouse? What food does the house mouse live 

 upon? How does it get it? 



6. How does the mouse act when it is reaching up to examine some- 

 thing? How does it hold its front feet? Describe how the mouse washes 

 its face. Its back. Its feet. 



7. Where does the house mouse build its nest? Of what material? 

 How do the baby mice look? Can they see when they are first bom ? 



8. House mice are great travelers. Can you tell how they manage 

 to get from place to place? Write a story telling all you know of their 

 habits. 



9. How many kinds of mice do you know? Does the house mouse 

 ever live in the field ? What do you know of the habits of the white-footed 

 mouse? Of the meadow mice? Of the jumping mice? 



