Feb., IQI2. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 187 



was more than three feet from the ground and in most cases an old 

 bird's nest had been altered and made use of. The nest is composed of 

 small twigs, grass and leaves. When in the ground, perhaps under an 

 old stump, it is reached by short underground tunnels. These animals. 

 do not hibernate. They are active in winter and store up grain and 

 seeds for their use during the cold weather. The young number from 

 4 to 6 and two or three litters are born in a season. 



Concerning the habits of this species in northern Illinois, Kennicott 

 writes, "In this vicinity, the Mus leucopus appears to inhabit the timber 

 only. I never observed one on the prairie. It is found in wooded 

 farms, where it is more or less injurious to the farmer, carrying off 

 and devouring graiii, destroying various young plants, and occasionally 

 doing much mischief by gnawing the bark of fruit-trees. On the 

 whole, however, it cannot be considered very injurious. Though it 

 may inhabit grain-fields in harvest time, it is decidedly a timber lover, 

 and never breeds nor takes up its residence permanently in large fields, 

 clear of trees, stumps and logs. Its home is usually in an old stump or 

 fallen log, under the bark of decayed trees, and sometimes in hollow 

 trees, at a considerable height above the ground. It sometimes takes 

 possession of deserted birds' nests, and occasionally builds in the 

 branches of trees. Dr. Hoy informs me that he has seen several of its 

 nests in southern Wisconsin. They are usually placed among the 

 thick branches of a thorn, at a height of 8 or 10 feet from the ground. 

 The nests were composed of grass, and were of globular form, the 

 entrance being a small hole on one side. I have also found nests on the 

 ground, under logs, and once in August, found a female, about to bring 

 forth young, in a nest of grass under a small block of wood on a low 

 river bottom. . . . This mouse is sometimes gregarious, as many 

 as a dozen having been found together in winter. . . . 



"The white-footed wood-mouse feeds chiefly upon the leaves and 

 seeds of various grasses and other herbaceous plants, with nuts, acorns,, 

 and the seeds of basswood, maple, and other trees; grain is also eaten, 

 greedily by it in the fields. It lays up considerable stores of food in 

 winter. 



"This species is active in winter, like the rest of the genus, moving 

 about a good deal on top of the snow, as well as below it, and sometimes 

 travelling a long distance at this season. Mr. Lawrence Koebelin tells 

 me that, in cold weather, in December, he found one which had collected 

 grass and formed a large nest in a pile of wood within two days after 

 it had been cut. 



"The female exhibits much affection for her young. These, when 

 small, I have always found attached to her teats, in which way she 



