541 
This species is very similar to the white-footed prairie-mouse, but 
is larger, the feet pure white, no black hairs occurring on them, and 
the tail is longer than that of the prairie white-foot. The length of 
the tail vertebree divided by the length from the tip of the nose to the 
base of the tail gives a ratio that will serve to distinguish the two 
species. This ratiois .7, or over (usually .75 to .9), for the woodland 
white-foot, and under .7 (usually .6 to .65) for the white-footed 
mouse of the prairie. 
The common name of this mouse is especially appropriate, as the 
habitat of the species is practically coextensive with the woodland 
areas of the state, present or past. I have taken it in a clump of 
bushes, hardly three rods square, standing alone in the prairie some 
miles from any timber, but I do not often find it following fences or 
hedges unless these are near areas recently wooded, and it does not 
usually make its nests or burrows where there is no shelter. 
I give below the per cent. of specimens taken in the different 
habitats in this part of the state. 
Till plains, Deper cents |  lood-plaim, 30. Per cent. - 
Moraines, 4per cent. Groves, 33 per cent. 
Blufts, 13, percent. Cleared pasture, 10 per cent. 
These figures indicate in a general way the relative abundance 
of the species in the different situations. As much more trapping 
was done on till plains and moraines than in the other localities, the 
percentages given for those two are too high to denote relative 
abundance. In the fall and winter I find this species in the deepest 
woods still standing in the county. I have also found it in heavy 
timber of beech, maple, and oak on the hills in the southern part of 
the state. During summer these mice leave the thick woods and are 
found along the borders of woodlands; in pastures where there are 
stumps, brush, or other shelter; and especially along the margins 
of brooks and on flood-plains. They are not found on till plains or 
moraines except in the neighborhood of timber or where there is a 
clump of bushes or similar shelter. Shocks of corn or grain near 
groves or other woodland may be occupied by them. 
This species and the prairie white-foot, though often found with- 
in a short distance of each other, do not mingle. J have taken the 
house-mouse and woodland white-foot under the same pile of boards; 
and the house-mouse and the white-footed prairie-mouse under the 
