35 



Harvest Mouse. Mole Rat. African Porcupine. 

 From D. Appleton 4 Co.'s •• Elements of Zoology, Science Series." 



two species. These are largely from America, and Europe 

 and Asia. 



The true mouse family is of the Old World. Our domes- 

 tic mice are foreigners, introduced by our forefathers. A 

 group of mice-like animals, resembling the latter, is exclu- 

 sively American. There are eighty or more species. The 

 little meadow mouse is an example. 



The only rodent common to both Europe and America 

 is the beaver, which is not regarded as the same in both 

 countries. 



GROUP 28. — The SQUIRRELS, Family Sdurida. The 

 SQUIRRELS are considered as the highest form of the 

 rodents. The large GRAY SQUIRREL, Red SQUIRREL, and 

 the little CHIPMUNK arc the more familiar kinds. Numbers 

 of other species are here seen, both from the American 

 continent and the Old World. 



This group of rodents is particularly subject to the con- 

 ditions of albinism, a state of pure whiteness of fur, and of 

 melanism, the opposite. 



