698 RODENTIA. 



parts, and fading into grayish-white beneath. In texture it is very 

 similar to that of the hare. The tail is about as long as the body, and 

 is heavily covered with rather stiff hairs, which at the extremity are of 

 a deep black hue. 



GENUS JACULUS. 



The single species is found from Nova Scotia and Canada, southward 

 to Pennsylvania, and westward to California and British Columbia. 



The Jumping Mouse, Jaculus Hudsonius, has the general form of its 

 Old World kindred, but its tail is more mouse-like. This tail is thin, 

 round, and very long, tapering down to a fine point, and sparsely sprin- 

 kled with short hairs. The fur is a dark liver color, with a blackish 

 tinge on the flanks. The body measures about three inches, the tail 

 about five inches in length. It lives near the forests, remains concealed 

 by day, but comes out in bands by night. Its burrows are about twenty 

 inches below the surface, but in cold weather they are sunk still lower. 

 At the beginning of winter the creature forms a hollow ball of clay, rolls 

 itself up in it, and lies in complete torpidity till springs returns. In sum- 

 mer it is very active, and hops around on its hind legs. Audubon thinks 

 that there is no animal so agile. He had two young ones in captivity, 

 and placed a foot deep of earth in the cage ; the mice made a burrow in 

 it, and kept themselves closely hidden as long as it was light, and con- 

 cealed by night whatever was placed in the cage. 



The family Myoxid^e is a small one containing only a single genus of 

 twelve species. In form and habit the Dormice approximate to the 

 squirrels; the head is narrow, the eyes pretty large, the ears large and 

 bare ; the fur is rich and soft, the tail is bushy, and the hairs on it grow 

 in a double row. These small rodents are found over all the Northern 

 regions of the Old World, and over most parts of Africa. 



GENUS MYOXUS. 



The Fat DORMOUSE, Myoxus glis, is found in Southern and Eastern 

 Europe. They live in the forests, concealing themselves by day in hol- 

 low trees, or even in the deserted burrows of the hamster, but coming 

 out at nightfall to feed. When autumn approaches, they store up their 

 winter supplies; they make in some deep hole a nest of soft moss, roll 



