432 
YERTEBRATA. 
thus does some damage to the farmers, wherefore — though it is a very pretty, soft, gentle, and 
well-meaning creature — it is held in disesteem by that large and influential elass of persons. 
This species, which is rather nocturnal in its habits, builds its nest near the surface of the 
ground, and brings forth from two to five at a birth. The young sometimes adhere to the teats 
of the mother, and she may be seen thus dragging them along on the ground. They live in low 
grounds, and do not visit dwellings or outhouses, at least in the United States, though they are said 
,to do so in Canada. They are easily tamed, and in this state, sit on their haunches and comb 
and clean their fur, and come to the bars of their cage for food. This, as well as all other species 
of mice, are devoured in large numbers by owls, hawks, and various kinds of small carnivora. 
The Yellow-cheeked Meadow-Mouse, A. mnthognatha, is eight inches long, dark brown 
on the back and silvery-gray beneath, lives in low grounds, and burrows in banks near ponds and 
water-courses, and makes long galleries ; it is partially nocturnal, and feeds on roots and grasses. 
It is found in Labrador and around Hudson's Bay. 
Drummond's Meadow-Mouse, A. Drummondii, is a little over four inches long, and is found 
in the valleys of the Eocky Mountains. 
Baird's Arvicola, a, austerus, is five and a half inches long, and inhabits the State of Wis- 
consin. 
The Northern Meadow-Mouse, A. Borealis, is four and a half inches long, and lives near the 
Great Bear Lake. 
The California Meadow-Mouse, A. edax, is five and a half inches long, and is found in Cali- 
fornia. 
The California Arvicola, A. Californica^ is somewhat larger than the preceding, and is found 
in the same region. 
The Western Meadow-Mouse, A. occidentalism is a trifle over four inches long, and is found 
in Oregon. 
The Jersey Field-Mouse, A. campestris, is three and a half inches long, and is found in New 
Jersey. 
The SoNORA Field-Mouse, A. Sonoriensis, is three and a quarter inches long, and is found in 
Sonora. 
The Red-sided Field-Mouse, A. ruhricatus^ is found on the shores of Behring's Straits. 
The Glossy Field-Mouse, A. De Kayii, is three inches and three-quarters long, and is found 
in the western part of the State of New York. 
Woodhouse's Field-Mouse, A. apella., is four and a half inches long, and is found in Penn- 
sylvania. 
The Oregon Meadow-Mouse, A. Oregoni, is a very minute species — three inches long — and 
is found near the Columbia River, in Oregon. 
Peal's Meadow-Mouse, A. montana., is four and a half inches long, and is found in California. 
The Sharp-nosed Arvicola, A. nasuta, is five inches and three-quarters long, and is found 
from Massachusetts westward to Michigan. 
The Rice Meadow Mouse, A. orizivora, is five inches long, and lives in the rice fields of 
Georgia and South Carolina. 
Richardson's Meadow-Mouse, A. Richardsonii^ is seven inches long, and is found near the foot 
of the Rocky Mountains. 
The A. Texana is but a trifle over two inches long, and is found near El Passo. 
The Texan Meadow-Mouse, A. Texiana, is four and a half inches long, and is found in Texas, 
along: the rivers Brazos and Grande. 
Leconte's Pine-Mouse, A. pineiorum^ has some resemblance to Wilson's Field-Mouse, and is 
found in some of the Atlantic States. 
Genus ONDATRA : Ondatra. — Of this there is a single species, the well known Muskrat or 
Musquash, 0. Zibethica^ the Castor Zibetkicus of Linnaeus, found only in North America. Its 
head, neck, and legs are short, and its thigbs hid in its body. Its length is fifteen inches, its tail 
ten; its color reddish-brown above and ashy gray beneath. The fur is short and downy, and was 
formerly much used as a substitute for beaver ; it is still in demand, and the animal is every- 
