35) 
fields. When grain or corn is shocked they soon take up their 
residence under the shocks. 
While not more than a single family is found in a nest, they are 
usually so associated that they may be abundant in one limited 
locality though entirely wanting in a similar dne near by. 
They are found on the margins of the flood-plains down to the 
border of the sedge zone, but they do not enter that zone as a usual 
thing. Although always more numerous on high ground, they are 
also found in considerable abundance along the borders of the flood- 
plains, and are often driven out of their burrows there by the spring 
floods. At such times I have found them clinging to stumps and 
other objects that rose above the water. On my approach they 
would take to the water, swimming easily, and diving and escaping 
if pursued. 
The habits of this species were studied and well described by 
Kennicott in northern Illinois forty-five years ago, and we can do 
little more than confirm his observations. The presence of these 
mice is always indicated by their runways through the grass. They 
seldom move by leaping, but creep close to the ground, keeping 
under cover whenever possible. Similar runways are sometimes 
made by the white-footed mice and shrews, but theirs are much 
the longer and more extensive, as those species do not object to 
running out in the open. The runways are about one and a half 
to two inches in diameter, and it is said that the mice make them by 
biting off and beating down the grass. The runways communicate 
with burrows four to eight inches below the surface, which may form 
an intricate network. The nests may be built above ground or 
below. They are globular in shape, about six inches in diameter, 
and are entered from below. They are constructed of soft grass. 
Those which are built below the surface are for winter use, though 
under haycocks and similar shelter the mice are found in winter 
occupying nests above ground. Often a nest so located, with its 
associated runways, is in close connection with a subterranean nest, 
which is also connected with a mesh of subterranean runways lying 
below those on the surface. 
These meadow-mice do not hibernate, though they store up con- 
siderable supplies of food. This consists of grass and various roots. 
Kennicott found in their burrows roots of Lzatris, Heltanthus, 
Silphium, wild onion, and grasses. 
