CLASS MAMMALS : OEDEK RODENTIA. 



97 



House Mouse and the 

 House Eat {M. decu- 

 manus), originally 

 from -Central Asia, are 

 now found, through 

 transportation by 

 ships, in every part of 

 the world.* The rat's 

 tail is prehensile and 

 can be used as a 

 "hand, a balance, or 

 a projecting spring." 

 The Musk Rat lives 

 on the river bank and 

 in the water, using 

 its vertically-flattened 

 tail for sculling. Its 

 home is constructed 

 of reeds, with 

 entrance above 

 another below 

 surface of 

 water. 



Geomyidse.- 

 Pouclied Gopher is so 

 called from its curious, 

 hair-lined cheek- 

 pouches. These open 

 externally, and are 

 used for carrying out '' 

 sand from its burrow 

 and for taking 

 food. 



one 

 and 

 the 

 the 



-The 



Mus mus(Mus, Common Mouse. 

 Mg. 160. 



Fiber zibetJ&eus, Musk Eat J. 



m -=« 



Oesmys bursanus, Pouched Gopher. 



* They are exceedingly cleanly and, in limited numbere, useful for their scavenger 

 work and destruction of insect vermin. When food fails they migrate in companies 

 to new places. In such journeys they often travel long distances and cross broad 

 rivers. They take with them the old and infirm, and Dr. Franklin asserts that he 

 once saw a rat leading a blind comrade by a twig grasped in its mouth. 



