46 MAMMALS 



Dutch-marked is the most sought for, and well-marked 

 specimens are not uncommon. As in other animals similarly 

 marked, there is a circular patch at each side of the head, 

 including the eye, ear and cheek. A larger mark begins 

 behind the shoulders and covers the rear portion of the 

 body, with the exception of the hind feet. The patches 

 must be very clear and distinct, evenly placed, and with no 

 intermixture of white or colored hairs. Most of the colors 

 are seen, including sable, but black, chocolate and blue are 

 more usual than the others. 



For some reason, the saddle patch of these mice is in- 

 variably so narrow that it seems almost in danger of slipping 

 off. Repeated attempts to increase the width of this mark- 

 ing have not been very successful, but perhaps some day we 

 shall see Dutch mice as well marked as Dutch rabbits. 

 Haphazard breeding from patched mice will never accom- 

 plish it. 



Even-marked mice, at least in part, are usually based on 

 Dutch-marked. Their value consists in the even placing of 

 small, well-balanced patches on a white ground. Most of 

 those seen are simply Dutch, with one or more additional 

 spots, although there are other variations. 



The broken-colored or patched mouse is white, with small, 

 round colored markings. There should be no approach to 

 the cheek patches and saddle of the Dutch. The spots must 

 be well separated and distinct, and as numerous as possible, 

 but there must be no brindling. In this country, this mouse 

 is sometimes known as a variegated, but this is a totally 

 distinct variety. In the true variegated mouse, the patches 

 consist of white and colored hairs thoroughly intermixed, 

 the very antithesis of what is wanted in the broken. 



The waltzing mouse represents the only variation which 

 does not depend on color for its distinction. It is said to 

 have been brought from Japan, but its real origin is lost in 



