The Harvest Mouse breeds several times during the year, producing from five to eight or nine young at a birth, and provides for them one of the prettiest cradles formed by any Mammal. It is placed, according to the locality, upon several grass-leaves split and interwoven with the other materials, or suspended at a height of from eighteen inches to three feet above the ground, upon the twigs of some shrub or between several stalks of corn or strong grasses. It is egg-shaped, or nearly round, about the size of the egg of a Goose, and is composed externally of slit leaves of the reeds or grasses among which it is formed, each leaf being carefully divided longitudinally by the sharp teeth of the little architect into six or eight thread-like portions, which are then all woven together, so as to produce a firm structure. The interior is lined, or rather stuffed, with all sorts of soft vegetable substances, so that it has been a question with many observers how the mother could get at all the members of her family to suckle them, and how the nest could contain them all as they began to increase in bulk. The young usually remain in the nest until they can see; but as soon as they are able to provide for themselves, the mother takes them out, gives them some practical instructions in the art of living, and then leaves them to their own devices. According to Brehm, as these Mice increase in age they improve in the art of nest-building.
Besides these few species, a multitude of Rats and Mice, belonging to the same genus, occur as natives of nearly all parts of the world, but in their habits they agree in general with the British species. India harbours a considerable number, among which we may mention the BANDICOOT RAT (Mus bandicota), a large species, which inhabits the Indian and Malayan peninsulas, and is very destructive in plantations; and the TREE RAT (Mus arboreus), a native of Bengal, seven or eight inches in length, which lives partly on grain, of which it lays up stores in its nests, and partly on young cocoa-nuts, which constitute its favourite food, and in search of which it climbs the trees. This species builds a nest on cocoa-nut trees and bamboos, and occasionally makes predatory visits to the houses. The STRIPED MOUSE (Mus barbarus) is remarkable for its coloration, its ground colour being a bright yellowish-brown or reddish-yellow, adorned with several longitudinal blackish-brown streaks. This elegant Mouse inhabits Northern Africa, especially in stony places. It is very abundant in Algeria.
MOLAR TEETH OF THE HAPALOTE.
Nearly allied to the true Mice are numerous forms more restricted in their distribution, which have been formed into distinct genera. Thus Pelomys fallax, in which the incisors are grooved, the tail short, and the first and fifth toes of all the feet shorter than the three middle ones, is peculiar to Mozambique; Acanthomys, in which the fur is mixed with flattened spines, is an African genus; whilst Echinothrix, which has a somewhat similar coat, is Australian. Madagascar possesses two peculiar genera, Nesomys and Brachytarsomys, the former having some relation to the American Murinæ, the latter remarkable for the shortness of the hind feet; and in Australia, besides the genus already mentioned, and one or two species of true Mus, we find the genus Hapalotis represented by about thirteen exclusively Australian species. These animals have the hind limbs rather long, the ears large, and the tail long and hairy, terminating in a tuft. The molar teeth also exhibit a peculiar pattern; The best known species is the WHITE-FOOTED HAPALOTE (Hapalotis albipes), an animal about the size of the Brown Rat, of a smoky brown colour, with the belly and the feet white. It inhabits New South Wales, especially in the mountainous parts. The animals of this genus were formerly regarded as allied to the South American Chinchillas and Viscachas.
The American Murines all belong to a group to which the name of Sigmodontes has been given, because their molar teeth, which in the young state have two tubercles in each transverse row (instead of three, which is the usual number in the preceding forms), when ground down by use, show some S-like patterns in the enamel folds in place of transverse ridges. The greater number of the species belong to the genus Hesperomys (Western Mouse), which is represented in both divisions of the American continent, and has been divided by authors into several sub-genera. The WHITE-FOOTED, or DEER MOUSE (Hesperomys leucopus) is perhaps the best known of all the species, and its varieties, or rather local permanent races, are distributed all over the continent of North America. The fur shows various brownish or greyish tints above; and the lower surface, with the feet up to the wrist and ankle, is snow-white. What Dr. Coues gives as the normal colour of typical specimens is a rich fawn, with a darker streak along the back: but he says that this is shown by not more than one example in six. The tail is generally white beneath. The length of the head and body is about three inches; the tail varies considerably in length. The White-footed Mouse is nocturnal in its habits, and feeds to a great extent upon corn, of which, with acorns and other nuts, it lays up stores for winter use. It lives a good deal upon trees, taking up its abode in the deserted nest of a Squirrel or of some small bird. When it constructs its own nest the little fabric is placed in a bush at from five to fifteen feet from the ground, and is very neatly constructed, usually of fine moss and strips of bark. In some localities it burrows in the ground. The GOLDEN or RED MOUSE (H. aureolus), which resembles the preceding species in form and size, has the fur of the upper surface golden-cinnamon colour, and the lower parts yellowish-white. It inhabits the Central and Southern States of the North American Union. The RICE-FIELD MOUSE (H. palustris), which has been placed in a distinct genus (Oryzomys), is a larger species, sometimes attaining the size of a small Rat. This is found in the Southern States, chiefly along the coast, and in rice-fields, where it is exceedingly abundant and does considerable damage. It is eminently aquatic in its habits. The AMERICAN HARVEST MOUSE (Ochetodon humilis) closely resembles the preceding species, but differs from them in a rather remarkable character. It has the upper incisor teeth grooved, a peculiarity which occurs also in the South American Rats of the genus Reithrodon. The American Harvest Mouse inhabits the Southern States, and extends northwards as far as Iowa and Nebraska.
The FLORIDA RAT, or Wood Rat (Neotoma floridana), is a widely distributed species in the United States, inhabiting especially the southern portion, but extending northwards as far as New York and Massachusetts. It measures from six to nine inches in length, with a tail from four to six inches long. In its coloration it presents a general resemblance to the common Brown Rat, but is brighter, especially on the sides; the lower surface is white. According to Audubon and Bachmann, the habits of this species vary considerably in different localities. These authors say that “in Florida they burrow under stones and the ruins of dilapidated buildings. In Georgia and South Carolina they prefer remaining in the woods. In some swampy situations, in the vicinity of sluggish streams, amid tangled vines interspersed with leaves and long moss, they gather a heap of dry sticks, which they pile up into a conical shape, and which, with grasses, mud, and dead leaves, mixed in by the wind and rain, form, as they proceed, a structure impervious to rain, and inaccessible to the Wild Cat, Raccoon, or Fox. At other times their nest, composed of somewhat lighter materials, is placed in the fork of a tree.” This species is very active and Squirrel-like in its habits. It feeds on grain, seeds, and fruits, and sometimes makes a meal of a Crayfish or a Frog. There are from three to six young in each litter, and two litters in the year. The young animals in very early days continue to adhere to the teats of their mother, even when she is walking about outside the nest, and even at a later period they will cling to her sides and back, after the manner of some Opossums. The female seems but little inconvenienced by this burden, and shows great affection for her family, defending them even at the risk of her own life. A nearly-allied, but smaller species, the BUSHY-TAILED WOOD RAT (N. cinerea), inhabits the western and north-western parts of America, also extending eastward to Hudson’s Bay, and southward to New Mexico and California. The COTTON RAT (Sigmodon hispidus), another inhabitant of the Southern States and Mexico, ranges southwards to Vera Cruz and Guatemala.
Besides several species of Hesperomys, South America possesses various Murine animals, which have been placed in special genera. Among these the most remarkable are those of which Mr. Waterhouse formed his genus Reithrodon, as these, although true Murines, have a very Rabbit-like character, and further present the peculiarity of having the upper incisors grooved. They have the profile much arched, the eyes large, the ears hairy, and the first and fifth toes of the hind feet very short. The tail is well clothed with hair. The RABBIT-LIKE REITHRODON (R. cuniculoides) inhabits Patagonia, where it was discovered by Mr. Darwin. It is of a yellowish-grey colour, mixed with black, with the throat and belly pale yellow, and the rump and feet white. The tail is about half the length of the head and body, dusky above, white beneath. The length of the head and body is six inches and a half. Two other species are described: one (R. typicus) from the La Plata; the other (R. chinchilloides) from the Strait of Magellan.
HEAD OF THE RABBIT-LIKE REITHRODON.