516 
THE SAVAGE WORLD. 
ployed for various purposes, as in the manufacture of the thumbs of gloves, 
but are too delicate for any article requiring much strength. The Chinese and 
other Asiatic nations, and many African tribes consider the flesh of rats a great 
delicacy, and Arctic travellers have often found them a welcome addition to their 
bill of fare. 
The Florida, or Wood Rat (M . floridana) , is about eight inches long and 
the tail six inches, the short stiff hairs of the latter not concealing the scaly 
rings ; the color above is dun, mixed with dark and yellowish-brown, lighter on 
the sides beneath, and the feet white; tail dusky above, below white; the head 
is sharp. It is abundant in the Southern Atlantic and Gulf States, and is 
found occasionally in the West; its habits vary much in different localities, living 
in some places in the woods, in others under stones or in the ruins of buildings ; 
in swampy districts it heaps up mounds two or three feet high of grasses, 
leaves and sticks, cemented by mud; sometimes the nest is made in the fork 
or the hollow of a tree. It moves about only at twilight, is very active and an 
excellent climber; the food consists of corn, nuts, cacti, crustaceans, mollusks 
and various roots and fruits; the disposition is mild and docile; from three 
to six young are produced twice a year. 
The Bush Rat (M. mexicana ) is rather small, light brown above, fulvous 
on the sides, under parts and feet white; tail hairy. Larger species are found 
west of the Rocky Mountains, very destructive to the furs, blankets and stores 
of the trappers; for an account of these see Vol. VIII., of the “Reports of the 
Pacific Railroad Expedition.” In the bone caves of Pennsylvania have been 
found the remains of a species whose body must have been at least twelve 
inches long. In the genus sigmodon the general appearance is that of a large 
field mouse; the body is stout, the hair long, the muzzle blunt and hairy, except 
on the point of the nose; the upper lip slightly notched; thumb rudimentary; soles 
naked, with six granular tubercles ; incisors stout, the upper much rounded; ears 
and tail moderate; molars rooted with a plane surface, the last two lower with 
enamel in the form of an S, whence the name. The genus is confined to the 
southern parts of the United States. 
The best known species is the Cotton Rat ( Sigmodon hispidus) , about five 
inches long with a tail of four; the color above is reddish-brown, brightest on 
the sides, lined with dark-brown, and under parts grayish-white; the hair is long 
and coarse, and the claws very strong. It is more abundant in the Southern 
States than the meadow mice in the North, living in hedges, ditches and 
deserted fields, and consequently doing but little damage to the planter. It is 
gregarious, feeding on seeds of grasses and leguminous plants, and also on 
flesh; it picks up wounded birds and small mammals, crawfish and crabs; it is 
very fierce and pugnacious, the stronger killing and devouring the weaker, and 
the males often eat the young; it is also very fond of sucking eggs. Nocturnal 
in habit, it is seen by day in retired places; it digs very extensive galleries 
not far from the surface, a family in each hole; very prolific, it breeds several 
times a year, having four to eight in a litter; it swims and dives well. It received 
its name not from any injury it does to the cotton plant, but from its lining 
the nest with this substance, which it is said to collect in large quantities. It is 
preyed upon by foxes, wild cats, hawks and owls; it is not found north of Virginia. 
In Africa is found the Mixed-colored Tree Rat ( Dendromys mesomelas ), a 
dweller in the trees, and colored gray, with a black stripe in its beak. 
