. The quadrupeds of North America [microform]. Mammals; Rodentia; Mammifères; Rongeurs. «j. 254 JUMPING preserved a female in a cage from spring to autumn ; she produced ax young a few days after bring 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 p
. The quadrupeds of North America [microform]. Mammals; Rodentia; Mammifères; Rongeurs. «j. 254 JUMPING preserved a female in a cage from spring to autumn ; she produced ax young a few days after bring 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, wer^ anxious to make their escape from the mouse, and convinced us that thh 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. Weobserv-d 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. They 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 -vith 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 t
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Keywords: ., bookauthorau, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectmammals
