768 A SINGING HESPEROMYS. 
one day he captured two specimens of the white-footed mouse 
(Hesperomys leucopus), and supposing it would be good company, 
he put them into the cage. Great mistake it was. The two 
white-footed barbarians abused the hospitality, and murdered poor 
Mus musculus. 
And now we ask are these phenomena that have been herein 
described the result of an abnormal condition of things or not? 
How much truth is there in the theory of some that the singing of 
these mice is the result of disease, or of some bronchial distur- 
bance? In my opinion the following reasons disprove the truth of 
any such theory. 
1. The exquisite animal enjoyment, and actual physical condi- 
tion, for it is fat, and perfect in pelage and form, indicating high 
health. Every form of bronchial disease is in its most ordinary _ 
effect depressing to the animal spirits. 
2. When engaged in song, the exercise reaches to the very depth 
of the chest, as is so often seen in the lowing of kine, where the 
muscles may be observed in action for the whole length of the ab- 
domen. Persons afflicted bronchially avoid deep vocal exercises. 
3. The singing is so often performed under those precise cir- 
cumstances in which bronchially diseased persons are sure to keep 
still, if possible. For instance, take the Wheel Song. Here, al- 
though the exercise was violent, yet the song would be sustained 
all through with no diminution of vocal strength; and quite fre- 
quently was it the case, that when the animal stopped turning the 
wheel, though it continued the song, the momentum would throw 
it on its back, when as if in surprise, it would roll off four or five 
totes on a higher octave, and in a greatly increased loudness of 
voice. 
4. Our vesper mouse delights in a role, the performance of which 
argues these three facts :— A high organization of the organs of 
the voice; delicate and skilful adjustment during use; 4 perf 
condition as respects health. She can sing and eat at the same 
time. When a boy the writer was fond of whistling, usually select- 
ing some ballad tune; and it was with perfect ease that the strain 
was continued through an entire stanza, without any break for the 
sake of getting breath; for ere the expiring air had become 
exhausted, he inverted the process, thus continuing his strain by 
the inspiring air as it came through the orifice formed by his lips. 
He also remembers that it was said of Jenny Lind that she could 
