MILL CREEK. 201 



then bravely plunging into the water, swam laboriously 

 across the stream and directly towards the boat. See- 

 ing it coming, I very quietly slipped an oar in its course, 

 and, as I hoped would be the case, upon reaching the 

 oar the mouse ceased swimming, and crawled up the 

 blade until it was quite out of the water, when it gave 

 a vigorous shake and commenced licking its fur, much 

 as a cat would do after an involuntary bath. 



It has not appeared to me that the meadow-mouse is 

 an amphibious mammal, yet I know when occasion re- 

 quires it can swim for a considerable distance, and in 

 more ways than one proves itself by no means hopeless 

 when sudden freshets submerge its subterranean re- 

 treats. I have so often been assured by my neighbors 

 that at such times they catch to the first bit of floating 

 wood which they find, and float thereon until the wind 

 or tide carries them within reach of dry land, that I can- 

 not but accept the statement ; and yet, guided solely by 

 my own observation, I believe they trust far more to 

 their natatorial powers in such crises, and I do know that 

 such a freshet as that of June, 1860, results in the death 

 by drowning of hundreds of these mice. 



Mr. Ord, who described this species of Arvicola, says : 

 " This species is fond of the seeds of the wild-oats (Zi- 

 zania aquatica), and is found in the autumn in those 

 fresh-water marshes which are frequented by the com- 

 mon rail {OaUvnula Carolina, LaiH). When the tide is 

 high the animal may be observed sitting upon the fallen 

 reeds, patiently waiting for the recession of the water. 

 From its position when at rest it has much the appear- 

 ance of a lump of mud, and is commonly mistaken for 

 9* 



