House Mouse 
139 
FIG. 45. HOUSE MOUSE, MuS mUSCuluS 
Skull showing dentition x 4 
Mus musculus (Lat. diminutive of mus^ little mouse). 
House Mouse. 
Mus miisciiliis Linn., Syst. Nat., loth ed., i., p. 62 (1758). 
Type locality. — Sweden. 
Measurements. — Total length, 6.5; tail vert., 3.2 ; hind foot, 0.70. 
Description. — Above, grayish brown (mouse color), lined with 
blackish; beneath, ashy plumbeous, tinged with reddish. Tail 
dusky; feet ashy brown. 
Distribution. — The House Mouse is found all over the world in or 
about houses; it has been introduced into America from Europe 
and is now found almost everywhere. In Colorado it is common 
enough in the settled parts of the State. 
Habits. — As its name indicates, this species is a frequenter 
of houses, and is a well known pest everywhere, as with its 
small size it can find its way through almost any hole, and 
so gets into the kitchens and pantries; it nibbles at the food 
it may find there, and causes the housewife much annoyance. 
It also takes up its abode in barns and granaries and is often 
