Fes., 1912. Mammats or ILrinois anp Wisconsin — Cory. 187 
was more than three feet from the ground and in most cases an old 
bird’s nest had been altered and made use of. The nest is composed of 
small twigs, grass and leaves. When in the ground, perhaps under an 
old stump, it is reached by short underground tunnels. These animals 
do not hibernate. They are active in winter and store up grain and 
seeds for their use during the cold weather. The young number from 
4 to 6 and two or three litters are born in a season. 
Concerning the habits of this species in northern Illinois, Kennicott 
writes, ‘‘In this vicinity, the us leucopus appears to inhabit the timber 
only. I never observed one on the prairie. It is found in wooded 
farms, where it is more or less injurious to the farmer, carrying off 
and devouring grain, destroying various young plants, and occasionally 
doing much mischief by gnawing the bark of fruit-trees. On the 
whole, however, it cannot be considered very injurious. Though it 
may inhabit grain-fields in harvest time, it is decidedly a timber lover, 
and never breeds nor takes up its residence permanently in large fields, 
clear of trees, stumps and logs. Its home is usually in an old stump or 
fallen log, under the bark of decayed trees, and sometimes in hollow 
trees, at a considerable height above the ground. It sometimes takes 
possession of deserted birds’ nests, and occasionally builds in the 
branches of trees. Dr. Hoy informs me that he has seen several of its 
nests in southern Wisconsin. They are usually placed among the 
thick branches of a thorn, at a height of 8 or 10 feet from the ground. 
The nests were composed of grass, and were of globular form, the 
entrance being a small hole on one side. I have also found nests on the 
ground, under logs, and once in August, found a female, about to bring 
forth young, in a nest of grass under a small block of wood on a low 
river bottom. . . . This mouse is sometimes gregarious, as many 
as a dozen having been found together in winter. 
“The white-footed wood-mouse feeds chiefly upon the leaves and 
seeds of various grasses and other herbaceous plants, with nuts, acorns, 
and the seeds of basswood, maple, and other trees; grain is also eaten 
greedily by it in the fields. It lays up considerable stores of food in 
winter. 
“This species is active in winter, like the rest of the genus, moving 
about a good deal on top of the snow, as well as below it, and sometimes 
travelling a long distance at this season. Mr. Lawrence Koebelin tells 
me that, in cold weather, in December, he found one which had collected 
grass and formed a large nest in a pile of wood within two days after 
it had been cut. 
“The female exhibits much affection for her young. These, when 
small, I have always found attached to her teats, in which way she 
