1888,] MAMMALS FROM TEXAS. 447 



"These mice live in single families in well-sheltered places in 

 woods and fields. They build neat nests of fine curly grass, corn, 

 silk, or any soft substance they can find. They also build little 

 houses of refuge away from the main dwelling. Their nests are 

 firm and elastic, very unlike ttie rude nests of Sigmodon hispidus. 

 If other mice live in the same place, they watch till the others dis- 

 appear, then suddenly steal part of the other nest and run to their 

 own with it. They again return slowly and repeat the same quick 

 theft. They are somewhat like shrews in their movements. They 

 creep under anything that is in their way, instead of bounding over 

 it like Cricetus leucopus and Ochetodon mexicanus. They are very 

 industrious, making many streets and alleys, and clearing off any 

 obstructions that may get on to them. They do not like to eat in 

 exposed places. They hardly ever try to bite when handled, and 

 can hardly draw blood when they do bite, their jaws are so weak. 

 The female has generally two, but sometimes three young at a time. 

 This is remarkable, as many of the allied species have often five 

 young ones at a time. 



" Besides the females with young that I caught in different loca- 

 lities, I had three sets born in confinement, in a small box. They 

 are bluish black before the hair begins to grow, which takes place at 

 about five days after birth, and then they are sooty black. When 

 danger is near the mother runs off carrying one in her mouth, like 

 a cat, and not only the mother, but the male also takes one in his 

 mouth, though somewhat awkwardly, and carries it to a safe place. 

 When eight days old they have a fair covering of hair and take 

 notice of what is going on. When twelve days old one of them 

 ran away to protect itself, and commenced to wash its face like the 

 old ones when perplexed. After the first week of their life, when 

 danger is near, the mother gives them a sign to catch on to the teats, 

 which they do, then she runs off, even jumps, with them both dang- 

 ling behind her like the tender of a locomotive, and I never saw one 

 fall off. When twenty days old each weighs 45 grains, they begin 

 to eat, and assume the appearance of the grown ones except that they 

 are much darker in colour. When one month old they are weaned, 

 nearly half-grown, and foraging for themselves. In twenty days after 

 the same female had another set of young. Full-grown C. taylori 

 weighs 150 grains, about one third of an ounce. Their voice is a 

 sharp squeak, very different from the yelping noise of Cricetodipus 

 Jlavus:'—W. T. 



14. Ochetodon mexicanus, De Sauss. 

 a-ff. 6 2 , 3/86. 



Head and Forearm 



body. Tail. Hind foot, and hand. Ear. 



a. d 66 90 19-2 22 10-5 



b. S 66 92 19-1 21-3 il-Q 



c. 6 62 90 18-7 21 10-5 



d. 2 62 97 18-1 21 107 



Mammae 1 — 2=6. 



31* 



