THE SQUIRRELS AND OTHER RODENTS OF THE ADIRONDACKS. 349 



our American forms are not subject to such migrations. Two species are 

 found in New York State; but of these, one has been taken but once. 



The rats and mice are more common — in fact, too common by far. Of the 

 former, the common or Norway rat is found everywhere in inhabited districts, 

 though he has failed to penetrate in very great numbers very far into the 

 Adirondacks. He is not a native species and according to De Kay, was introduced 

 by the foreign mercenaries during the Revolutionary War. Though they are 

 intelligent beasts, they are unattractive in appearance, and are probably as little 

 liked as any animal. They are of some value as scavengers, but do far more 

 damage, and are therefore only regarded as a nuisance. 



Before them came the black rat, which was also introduced from Europe, and 

 which spread throughout the country and was found in many parts of this State. 

 This was rather more attractive in appearance than the Norway rat, but the 

 latter has entirely driven him out, and he is now probably extinct here. This 

 process has been repeated throughout the world, and the black rat now exists 

 only in places to which the Norway rat has not penetrated. 



Like the rats, the house mouse is not a native species, but, originating in 

 southern Asia, they have gone with man wherever he has traveled, and now are 

 spread throughout the entire globe. This migration is still going on, and probably 

 there is no vessel tha't sails that does not either leave some on this side or carry 

 back toward their native land some specimens of the house mouse. Their habits 

 are too well known to need description here. 



Of the species of native mice, the jumping mice are interesting little forms, 

 with long tails and long hind legs, with the aid of which they make astonishing 

 leaps, when they want to get away. There are two species of them in the State, 

 and the woodland jumping mouse is found throughout the Adirondacks in the 

 deep woods, making its nest under the laurels and hemlocks beside the brooks. 



Another pretty little mouse, common in the woods, is the whitefooted mouse, 

 often called tho deer mouse. In their native haunts they make their nests high 

 up in the hollow trees or in logs, or in burrows in the earth, but it has been 

 quick to see the advantages of civilization, and is now often found in the houses. 

 Here it lives in harmony with the house mouse, taking its share of any food 

 that may happen to be around. In its wild state the whitefooted mouse lives 

 mainly on beechnuts and almost any kind of seeds, of which it stores away an 

 immense quantity in its nest. During the winter it feeds upon these, but the coldest 

 weather seems to have no effect upon it, and it may often be seen running over 

 the snow in search of more food. In captivty it becomes very tame and makes 

 a mcst interesting and attractive little pet. Some individuals appear to have the 



