THE PANTRY MOUSE 47 
related in Vol. V. of The Standard Natural 
History. All observers speak of the trilling, 
warbling, bird-like character of the notes. 
‘It was not much of a song,’’ writes a Detroit 
lady, ‘‘as songs go, but still a distinct musical effort. ’ 
Sometimes it would run up an octave and end with 
a decided attempt at a trill, Sometimes it would try 
to trill all the notes. . . . Its favorite position 
when singing was an erect one, standing on its hind 
feet, and holding by its forward ones to the wall or 
a bracket, almost invariably turning its face towards 
us. It remained with us several weeks, and at length 
became so familiar as to appear to enjoy company, 
seemingly putting forth all its strength to amuse us 
with its little song, which improved daily in tone and 
volume, but not in compass. Its voice became so 
clear that we could frequently hear it in the parlor 
that opened out of the dining room.’’ 
Most persons regard this singing as not due 
to disease, but quite natural. ‘‘There seems 
good reason for believing,’’ in the language of 
Ernest Thompson Seton, ‘‘that house-mice, 
and, indeed, all mice, will at times express their 
sense of well-being in a series of complicated 
sounds that correspond in every way with the 
singing of birds.’’ 
