CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 43 



§ 145. The White Mice, with red eyes, (Albinos,) are 

 occasionally so sensible to the impression of light, as to 

 close their eyelids in full day, so as to have the appearance 

 of being blind. 



§ 146. The Rustic Mouse (Mus agrarius) differs from 

 the common mouse, having the spaces between the ears 

 of an orange color, and the legs and feet of a pure white. 

 It is found in great abundance in the fields. 



§ 147. The Squirrel (Sciurus) is a gnawer, with a long 

 and bushy tail, an effective instrument in promoting those 

 long leaps which he makes from tree to tree. The squir- 

 rel takes his food from the vegetable kingdom, and is very 

 injurious to corn-fields. There are about twelve different 

 species of squirrels in the United States ; among which 

 are the Cat-squirrel, (Sciurus cinereus,) the Fox-squirrel 

 of the South, (Sciurus vulpinus,) Common Gray-squirrel, 

 (Sciurus Carolinensis,) Black-squirrel, (Sciurus niger,) 

 Ground-squirrel, (Sciurus striatus,) and Flying-squirrel, 

 (Sciurus Volucella.) 



§ 148. The Maryland Marmot, Ground-hog, or Wood- 

 chuck, (Arctomys Monax,) is of the size of a rabbit, 

 covered with long, rusty-brown hair, has short ears and 

 cheek-pouches, and is an inhabitant of all temperate parts 

 of the United States. The marmots dwell in subterrane- 

 ous habitations, consisting of various chambers, where they 

 lie in a torpid state during the greater part of the winter. 

 They are very injurious to clover, which they collect, 

 making great provisions for their subterranean abode ; but 

 their flesh can be eaten, and their skins used as fur. They 

 are easily tamed, and learn several tricks. 



§ 149. The Canada Porcupine (Histrix dorsata) is 

 about the size of a fox, covered with short bristles or 

 spines, two inches and a half long, which are concealed 

 by long and coarse hair : it is a native of Canada. As 

 those bristles are formidable arms for the animal, being 

 too slow in its movements to escape by flight, it rolls itself 

 up in a globular form, and is able to defend itself against an 

 attack. The Indians make great use of the quills of the 

 Porcupine as ornaments to their dresses, pipes, and weap- 

 ons, and consider the flesh of it as a great luxury. The 



