RICE MEADOW-MOUSE. 
215 
Inches. Lines. 
Urorn end of heel to point of longest nail, - - - 1 2 
“ point of nose to ear, q 
Height of ear, 
HABITS. 
T.he Rice Meadow-Mouse, as its name implies, is found in particular 
localities in the hanks of the rice-fields of Carolina and Georgia. It 
burrows in the dykes or dams a few inches above the line of the usual rise 
of the water. Its burrow is seldom much beyond a foot in depth. It has 
a compact nest at the extremity, where it produces its young in April. 
They are usually four or five. In spring this Mouse is in the habit of 
sitting on the dams near the water, and is so immoveable, and so much 
resembles the colour of the surrounding earth, that it is seldom noticed 
until it moves olT to its retreat in the banks. "We have observed it scratch- 
ing up the rice when newly planted and before it had been overflowed by 
the watei . W hen the rice is in its milky state this animal commences 
feeding on it, and continues during the autumn and winter, gleaning the 
fields of the scattered grains. We have also seen its burrows in old banks 
on deserted rice-fields, and observed that it had been feeding on the large 
seeds of the Gama grass ( Tripsicum dadyloides), and on those of the wild 
rye ( Elymus Virginicus). A singular part of the history of the Rice Mouse 
is the fact that in the extensive salt-marshes along the borders of Ashley 
and Cooper rivers, this species is frequently found a quarter of a mile 
from the dry ground. Its nest is suspended on a bunch of interlaced 
marsh grass. In this situation we observed one with five young. At 
certain seasons this little animal feeds on the seeds of the marsh grass 
(■ Spartina glabra). When these fail it sometimes retires to the shore for 
food, but has no disrelish to the small Crustacea and mollusks that remain 
on the mud at the subsiding of the tide. 
Tins species swims rapidly, and dives in the manner of the European 
water-rat (. Arvicola amphibia), or of our Arvicola Pennsylvania. In an 
attempt at capturing some alive, they swam so actively, and dived so far 
from us, that the majority escaped. Those we kept in captivity pro- 
duced young in May and September ; they were fed on grains of various 
kinds, but always gave the preference to small pieces of meat. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
Wc obtain cd several specimens of this Mouse through the aid of our 
friend Hr. Alexander Moultrie, who assisted us in capturing them on his 
