82 
NEW-YORK FAUNA. 
THE COMMON MOUSE. 
Mus MUSCULUS. 
Mus musculus. Lin. 12 Ed. p. 83. 
Mouse. Penn. Arct. Zool. Vol. 1, p. 131. Say, Long’s Exped. Vol. 1, p.262. Harlan, p. 149. Godman, Am. Nat. 
Hist. Vol. 2, p. 84. Emmons, Mass. Report, 1840, p. 62. 
Characteristics. Dusky grey above, with a slight tinge of yellow ; beneath ash grey. Ears 
about half the length of the head. Tail nearly as long as the body. 
This familiar little species has also been introduced from Europe into this country, since 
its discovery. It has every where followed the footsteps of man, and is now extended to our 
most western settlements. It breeds several times, or what is more probable, at various sea¬ 
sons of the year, bringing forth from six to ten at a litter. It may be treated rather as a trouble¬ 
some than as an extensively injurious animal. It is omnivorous, and lives equally on flesh 
and vegetables; apparently, however, preferring the latter. 
THE JUMPING MOUSE. 
MUS LEUCOFUS. 
PLATE XXIII. FIG. 1. —(STATE COLLECTION.) 
The Rustic Mouse. Godman, Am. Nat. Hist. 
Mus leucopus. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 1, p. 142. 
Arvicola emmonsi. Emmons, Mass. Report, p. 61. 
Characteristics. Brownish above ; feet and all beneath white. Ears large. Tail hairy, as 
long or longer than the body. Length six inches. 
Description. Head rather large, with a pointed muzzle. Eyes moderate. Ears large, 
rounded above, membranous and naked on the upper margin within and without. Whiskers 
numerous, blackish brown at the base, whitish at the tips, longer than the head. Fore feet 
four-toed, with five tubercles ; the thumb is rudimentary, not furnished with a claw. Hind 
feet an inch and a half long, with five toes, and with short, feeble and curved claws nearly 
concealed by long white hairs. Tail slender, hairy, subquadrate, slightly tapering. Incisors 
not grooved. Molars tuberculated, the first in each jaw largest; they gradually diminish in 
size to the most posterior, which, when worn, presents a circular disk on the crown, and is 
scarcely tuberculated. Fur fine and rather long. 
Color. Light reddish brown above, intermixed with some entirely black hairs along the 
back, which gives to that region a much darker appearance. The light reddish fur above is 
dark slate at the roots ; it is separated from the light color beneath by a tolerably well defined, 
and occasionally a darker line. All beneath, including the feet, the anterior, inner and poste¬ 
rior parts of the thighs, and the inferior and'lateral portions of the tail, pure white. This 
color is plumbeous at the base. 
