112 NATURAL HISTORY. 



The American Harvest Mouse inhabits the Southern States, and extends northwards as far as Iowa 

 and Nebraska. 



The FLORIDA RAT, or Wood Rat (Neotomn floridana), is a widely distributed species in the 

 United States, inhabiting especially the southern portion, but extending northsvarcig as far as New 

 York and Massachusetts. It measures from six to nine inches in length, with a tail from four to 

 six inches long. In its coloration it presents a general resemblance to the common Brown Rat, but 

 is brighter, especially on the sides; the lower surface is white. According to Audubon and Bachmann, 

 the habits of this species vary considerably in different localities. These authors say that "in Florida 

 they burrow under stones and the ruins of dilapidated buildings. In Georgia and South Carolina 

 they prefer remaining in the woods. In some swampy situations, in the vicinity of sluggish streams, 

 amid tangled vines interspersed with leaves and long moss, they gather a heap of dry sticks, which 

 they pile up into a conical shape, and which, with grasses, mud, and dead leaves, mixed in by the 

 wind and rain, form, as they proceed, a structure impervious to rain, and inaccessible to the Wild 

 Cat, Raccoon, or Fox. At other times their nest, composed of somewhat lighter materials, is placed 

 in the fork of a tree." This species is very active and Squirrel-like in its habits. It feeds on grain, 

 seeds, and fruits, and sometimes makes a meal of a Crayfish or a Frog. There are from three to six 

 young in each litter, and two litters in the year. The young animals in very early days continue to 

 adhere to the teats of their mother, even when she is walking about outside the nest, and even at a 

 later period they will cling to her sides and back, after the manner of some Opossums. The female 

 seems but little inconvenienced by this burden, and shows great affection for her family, defending 

 them even at the risk of her own life. A nearly-allied, but smaller species, the BUSHY-TAILED WOOD 

 RAT (A T . cinerea), inhabits the western and north-western parts of America, also extending eastward 

 to Hudson's Bay, and southward to New Mexico and California. The COTTON RAT (Siymodon 

 hispidus), another inhabitant of the Southern States and Mexico, ranges southwards to Vera Cruz 

 and Guatemala. 



Besides several species of Hesperomys, South America possesses various Murine animals, which 

 have been placed in special genera. Among these the most remarkable are those of which Mr. 

 Waterhouse formed his genus Reithrodon, as these, although true Murines, have a very Rabbit-like 

 character, and further present the peculiarity of having the upper incisors grooved. They have 



the profile much arched, the eyes large, the ears hairy, 

 and the first and fifth toes of the hind feet very short. 

 The tail is well clothed with hair. The RABBIT-LIKE 

 REITHRODON (R. cuniculoides) inhabits Patagonia, where it 

 was discovered by Mr. Darwin. It is of a yellowish-grey 

 colour, mixed with black, with the throat and belly pale 

 yellow, and the rump and feet white. The tail is about 

 half the length of the head and body, dusky above, white 

 beneath. The length of the head and body is six inches and 

 a half. Two other species are described: one (R. tijpicus) 



HEAD OF THE RABBIT-LIKE REITHRODON. fl ' 0m the La Plata > tllg tller ( R ' cMncMUoides) from the 



Strait of Magellan. 



The HAMSTERS, forming the sub-family CRICETIN^E, are very nearly related to the true Mice 

 and Rats, but differ from them at the first glance by their possession of large internal cheek-pouches, 

 those organs being entirely wanting or very small in the Murinse. Their molars, three in number 

 in each series, are also tuberculate when young and regularly rooted. As age advances they become 

 more and more worn away, so as to exhibit folds of enamel. They are stoutly-built rat-like animals, 

 generally with short tails, with the upper lip cleft, and with short limbs, of which the hinder have 

 five, and the anterior four, toes, the thumb being represented by a small wart. The Hamsters are 

 confined to the Old World, and chiefly inhabit the temperate parts of Europe and Asia j two or three 

 species occur in Africa. They live generally in corn-fields, where they dig deep burrows with 

 numerous chambers, into which they can retreat to take their repose, and in which they pass the 

 winter, previously, however, taking care to lay up a good store of provisions in some of the chambers 

 of their domicile. 



