MICE PECULIAR TO THE SOUTH 233 



house mouse, 23^ + 2 inches long, that only an expert can 

 readily recognize it at first sight. The ten or more species 

 are scattered throughout the southern, southwestern, and 

 Pacific states, but none of them are found in northeast- 

 ern North America. The usual color is gray-brown above, 

 and lighter underneath, and the best-known example is Le 

 Conte's Harvest Mouse^ of the south Atlantic states, from 

 Virginia to Florida. 



The Rice-Field Moxjse^ should have been called a rat, 

 for it is 5 inches long, with a 5-inch tail. It is strictly a 

 Southern animal, inhabiting the wet rice-fields and swamps 

 of the Gulf states from Texas up to southern New Jersey, 

 its northern limit. It has a long head, a sharp nose, a shapely 

 body, prominent ears, and a long tail. Its color above is 

 bleached brown, but its under-surface is grayish, or dull 

 white. 



This mouse is partial to the vicinity of water, especially 

 the banks of rice-fields. It swims and dives well, and some- 

 times builds its nest and rears its young in interlaced marsh- 

 grass, over water, and far from dry ground. 



The Cotton Rat, or Marsh Rat^ is a species which 

 any country may Veil be without. It is small for a rat, but 

 courageous, vicious in temper, and voracious in appetite. It 

 is fond of flesh, and when several are caged together the 

 stronger ones do not scruple to kill and eat weaker rats of 

 their own kind. In length it is the size of a large chipmunk, 

 6-|-4 inches. The upper surface of the body and head, and 

 outside of the legs, are dark mottled yellowish-brown, the 

 1 Reithrodontomys lecontii. ^ Oryzomys palustris. ' Sigmodon hispidus. 



