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live is generally marked with paths or roads leading to 

 the feeding grounds which are always close at hand. 

 These paths are more noticeable in winter than at other 

 times. The musk rat receives its name from the strong 

 odor which characterize them. These animals are 

 much hunted and trapped. The hunter stands con- 

 cealed back of a tree or bush waiting his appearance. 

 Its tail is long and scaly, like the common rat; color, 

 brownish gray. 



MOUSE. 



There are several species of mice: the common gray 

 mouse, the field mouse, the harvest mouse and the white 

 mouse. The latter one is much prized as a pet, being 

 a handsome little creature. The mouse family is char- 

 acterized by long tails, small ears and eyes, and body 

 covered with. fur. Rats are very much the same in 

 general appearance, excepting in size, they being mucl^ 

 larger than the mouse. The common mouse that lives 

 about our houses needs no particular description. The 

 field mouse is a little larger, and somewhat resembles 

 the mole. They make nests in the grass or in rubbish 

 heaps, which are composed of grass, bark, pieces of 

 paper and other soft materials, all of which are chawed 

 up and made into a fine soft nest. These mice are more 

 frequently seen in autumn when corn shocks are being 

 removed, or hay stacks displaced. They can run very 

 fast. One handling them needs to have thick gloves 

 on, as they are apt to bite. The harvest mouse is the 

 smallest of quadrupeds, and was discovered by White, 

 and so mentioned in his ''Selborne.'' They live in 

 grass fields and make curious little nests about the size 



