. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. WILD RATS AND MICE 89 habiting the wet rice-fields and swamps of the tiiilf states from Texas up to southern New Jersey, its northern hmit. It has a long head, a sharp nose, a shapely body, prominent ears, and a long tail. Its color above is bleached brown, but its under surface is grayish, or dull white. This mouse is partial to the vicinity of water, especially the banks of rice-fields. It swims and dives well, and sometimes builds its nest and rears its young in interlac
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. WILD RATS AND MICE 89 habiting the wet rice-fields and swamps of the tiiilf states from Texas up to southern New Jersey, its northern hmit. It has a long head, a sharp nose, a shapely body, prominent ears, and a long tail. Its color above is bleached brown, but its under surface is grayish, or dull white. This mouse is partial to the vicinity of water, especially the banks of rice-fields. It swims and dives well, and sometimes builds its nest and rears its young in interlaced marsh grass, over water, and far from dry ground. The Cotton Rat, or Marsh Rat,' is a species homa. New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico; and wherever found their destructiveness causes them to be cordially disUked. The White-Footed Mouse, or Deer Mouse,- is well worthy of acciuaintance. It is distributed over nearly the whole of upper North America, ex- cept the arctic islands, and the Barren CJrounds. On account of the changes it has ulidergone, chiefly in color shades, and length of tail, natural- ists now recognize in the United States and Can- ada about seventy species and subspecies ! But the student need not be discouraged by this RICE-FIELD MOUSE. COTTON HAT. which any country may well be without. It is small for a rat, but courageous, vicious in tem- per and voracious in appetite. It is fond of flesh, and when several are caged together, the stronger ones do not scruple to kill and eat weaker rats of their own kind. In length it is the size of a large chipmunk, 6-1-4 inches. The upper surface of the body and head, and outside of the legs, are dark mottled yellowish-brown, the under surface and inside of legs dull white, or brownish- gray. Cotton Rats are found from North Caro- lina to southern Florida, and also in Texas, Okla- ' Sigmodon hispidus. Every White-Footed Mouse can be recognized by the clean white or light gray color on the under half of its body, head,
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