254 
JUMPING MOUSE. 
preserved a female in a cage from spring to autumn ; she produced two 
young a few days after being caught ; she reared both of them, and 
they had become nearly of full size before autumn, when by some accident 
our pets escaped. We placed a foot of earth at the bottom of the cage, 
in this they formed a burrow with two outlets. They used their feet and 
nails to advantage, as we observed them bury themselves in the earth, 
in a very short time. They were usually very silent, but when we 
placed a common mouse in the cage, squeaked with a loud chattering 
noise, like some young bird in pain. They skipped about the cage, were 
anxious to make their escape from the mouse, and convinced us that this 
species is very timid. They were in their habits strictly nocturnal, scarcely 
ever coming out of their holes during the day, but rattling about the 
wires of the cage throughout the night. 
We observed that every thing that was put into their cage, however 
great might be the quantity, was stored away in their holes before the 
next morning. We fed them on wheat, maize, and buckwheat. Thev 
gave the preference to the latter, and we observed that when they had 
filled their store-house with a quart of buckwheat, they immediately form- 
ed a new burrow in which they deposited the surplus. 
We are inclined to believe that this species produces several times dur- 
ing the summer, as we have seen the young on several occasions in May 
and August ; They are from two to four ; we have usually found three. 
The fact of the females being frequently seen with the young attached to 
their teats, carrying them along in their flight when disturbed, is well 
ascertained. We have also observed this in several other species ; in the 
white-footed mouse, the Florida rat, and even the common flying squirrel. 
We are not, however, to argue from this that the young immediately after 
birth become attached to the teats in the manner of the young opossoms, 
and are incapable of relaxing their hold ; on the contrary the female we 
had in confinement, only dragged her young along with her, when she was 
suddenly disturbed, and when in the act of giving suck ; but when she 
came out, of her own accord, we observed that she had relieved herself from 
this incumbrance. This was also the case with the other species refer- 
red to. 
Dr. Dekay, regards it as a matter of course that in its long leaps, it is 
aided by the tail. We doubt whether the tail is used in the manner of the 
kangaru ; the under surface of it is never worn in the slighte.st manner, 
and exhibits no evidence of its having been used as a propeller. Its long 
heel and peculiarly long slender tarsal bones on each toe, seem in them- 
selves sufficient to produce those very long leaps. We have often wal di- 
ed this species, and although it mov’es with such celerity as to render an 
