MUS MUSCULUS. 26 r 



in the fertile valleys along the outskirts of the Wilderness. li\in_o- in 

 the fields during the short sumnier season, and returning to the 

 dwellings, barns, and haystacks at the ai)[)roac]-i of winter. 



It is omnivorous, and. in the main, nocturnal. It usually gives 

 birth to from hve to nine )-oung at a time, and has several litters in 

 a season. 



TIic House Mouse as a ]\)calist. 



It has long been known that individuals of th(! common House 

 Mouse occasional!)- possess ver\' exceptional vocal powers. These 

 "singing mice" have appeared, from time to time, in various parts 

 of the country, and their performances have been eagerl\- listened to 

 and carefully recorded b)' the delighted hearers. 



My aunt, Mrs. Helen M. Bagg, once had a singing Mouse in her 

 house at Detroit, Michigan, and has kindly f:\vored me with tlu: fol- 

 lowing account of it : " Early in the spring of i85cS I would occasion- 

 ally hear faint musical sounds, like the warbling of a young bird, issue 

 from the china closet, which was on one side of the tlining room. 

 Several days passed before I could get any clew to the sounds We 

 had singing birds — a mocking bird and canaries — and every one de- 

 clared it was the birds I had heard, but I felt equally certain the 

 sounds came from the closet. One afternoon when the house was 

 quiet, the children taking their naps, and the cook haxing ceased to 

 ratde her dishes, I opened the closet door and sat down where I 

 could have a full view of the inside. After a long and patient waiting 

 a mouse peered out from behind the plates, climbed up a litde way on 

 the brackets, and, after lookiuL-' around several times, be<'-an to sino- ! 

 I need not describe my feelings. Its song was not much of a song, 

 ' as songs go,' but still a distinct musical effort. Sometimes it would 

 run up an octave and end with a decided attempt at a trill. Some- 

 times it would tr)- to trill all the notes. An octave seemed to be 

 about its range. I could distiiictl\- see the expansion and vibration 

 of its throat and chest as one can in a song bird. Its faxorite posi- 



