338 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



" The objection which classes the Muski'at among nui- 

 sance animals, is not because they eat valuable things, 

 but because of their burrowing habits ; they cause river 

 and pond banks to cave in, and undermine mill-dams. I 

 know of a large and valuable tract of marsh, the drain- 

 ing of which has been twice abandoned because myriads 

 of Muskrats kept burrowing through the dikes. The 

 Muskrat's summer home is in a bank burrow, and at 

 this season he varies his vegetable food with fresh- 

 water mussels. He is a great fighter, and has been 

 known to attack people on slight provocation, and 

 without being cornered. 



" The true Rats and Mice have bright eyes, large ears, 

 soft fur, and naked, scaly tails. They eat both animal and 

 vegetable food, which habit is called being omnivorous. 

 The Meadoio House we have been discussing comes 

 first among these, and next the graceful White-footed or 

 Dee?- Mouse, that you have made friends witli at the 

 fireside. This mouse must feel quite at home here in 

 camp, or he would not show himself so freely, for they 

 are very shy by nature, feeding at night, and pre- 

 ferring the shelter of wheat stacks and outbuildings to 

 houses, though I believe they are the common House 

 Mice of some districts. This mouse is a great climber 

 aud jumper, placing its nests in all sorts of nooks; now 

 in a bird or Squirrel's nest high up in a tree, then again 

 neatly weaving a round home of its own in some bush 

 a few feet above ground. They cache grass seeds and 

 grain underground, and altogether this little Deer 

 Mouse is so pretty and dainty, with its white feet and 

 vest and ruddy brown back, bright eyes, and long black 

 wliiskers, that I am glad to say that it does little harm. 



