36 The White-Footed Mouse 



trees; but its usual abode is along hedgerows, in the 

 fields, or even in dwellings about well wooded sections 

 of the country. The hunter's camp is very siire to 

 be visited by them, and sometimes their friendliness 

 becomes a burden. While their usual food is nuts 

 and seeds of various kinds, they soon learn to eat 

 almost anything about the camp. These little fellows 

 show a most surprising capacity for food, and when once 

 a hungry hord of them takes possession of the camp, 

 well may the hunters and trappers look carefully after 

 their stock of provisions; for when the snow lies deep 

 through the forest and the nearest store is forty miles 

 away, then is every ounce of flour and meal precious. 



This little rodent has sharp teeth which sometimes 

 he uses in a careless and inconsiderate manner; cord, 

 fish line, hunting tackle of various kinds, and even 

 snares set for other animals are cut to pieces. The 

 trap is often sprung and the bait which might have 

 caught a mink or marten has been devoured by this 

 small midnight marauder. 



Under favorable circumstances the white-footed 

 mouse stores up considerable quantities of beechnuts 

 for winter use. These seem to be his favorite nuts. 

 Occasionally, when nuts are not attainable, seeds and 

 grains of various kinds are stored. The nuts are 

 usually shucked when gathered, at least this has been 



