THE MOUSE AND RAT FAMILY 399 
every state in the Union and all of Canada besides. They 
are our most attractive and interesting mice. It is easy 
to distinguish them from ‘ 
other types by their white 
feet, and the clean white 
color of the entire under 
part of the body and head. 
The back is usually a deli- 
cate grayor brown. They 
have a long tail, large ears, 
and large bright eyes, and 
are very dainty and cun- 
ning little creatures. They most commonly live in the brush 
along streams, and sometimes in buildings as house mice do. 
They nest in all sorts of crevices, in hollow trees which they 
climb, and also in burrows. Their food consists of seeds, 
WHITE-FOOTED OR DEER MOUSE 
Brown or Domestic Rat 
nuts, and acorns, and they often collect and store up large 
quantities for future use. 
Rats. — There are over fifty kinds of rats in North America, 
but the only species found. in the northern states are the 
domestic rat and the muskrat. The common, domestic, or 
