342 WILSON'S MEADOW-MOUSE. 



opening, large. The neck is so short that the head and shoulders seem 

 united, like those of the shrew-mole. 



Fore-feet, slender, having four toes and a thumb, which is furnished 

 with a sharp nail ; nails, small, compressed, slightly hooked and sharp. 

 The toes have five tubercles ; the second toe from the thumb is longest, 

 the third a little shorter, the first still shorter, and the outer one shortest. 



The hind-feet are a little longer than the fore-feet ; the third and fourth 

 toes from the inner side are nearly of equal length, the second toe is a 

 little shorter, the fifth still shorter, and the first is shortest. The soles of 

 the hind-feet have five distinct tubercles ; all the feet are clothed with 

 short, adpressed, hairs. The tail is short, scaly, cylindrical, slightly 

 clothed with rigid hair extending beyond the vertebrae. 



Teeth, dark orange ; fur, from the roots to near the tips, on every part 

 of the body, dark plumbeous. The colour differs a shade or tvi^o between 

 winter and summer. It may be characterized as brownish-gray above, 

 a little darker on the back. The lips, chin, throat, and abdomen, are 

 light bluish-gray. Feet, dark-brown ; tail, brown above, and a shade 

 lighter beneath : eyes, black ; whiskers, white and black. 



Length of head and body . 



5 inches. 



" tail 



1| do. 



Another specimen. 





Length of head and body . 



5i do. 



" " tail (vertebrae) . 



n do. 



" " " including fur 



15 do. 



We have had opportunities in New- York, Pennsylvania, and the New 

 England States, of learning some of the habits of this species. It is, in 

 fact, the common Meadow-Mouse of the Northern and Eastern States. 



Wherever there is a meadow in any of these States, you may find 

 small tortuous paths cut through the grass, appearing as if they had been 

 partially dug into the earth, leading to the roots of a stump, or the 

 borders of some bank or ditch. These are the work of this little animal. 

 Should you dig around the roots, or upturn the stump, you may find a 

 family of from five to ten of this species, and will see them scampering 



