The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-21
sIyGIN0 MICE.
Evidence That Their son1 I. Not m Dat
pouri,s OF JOY or Good Feeling.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUS-Str: Mr.. Tartas,
Mr. Turner, and Mr.. O'Donnell have each con-
tributed to THE SUS some Information concern
Ing singing mice. They and the general public
may be interested To hear OF = Mus OF singing
proclivities that was kept n captive for year
and seven months.
Several years ago tho writer heard strange
noise near somo water pipes in n storeroom. and
at fret thought that one OF them had broken
and that little stream was gnrgling between
the walls. Later this gurgiing sound was dis
covered to he produced by mouse. which after
few days WAS captured In one OF the ordinary
traps made to secure those little rodents alive
When the mouse was removed from the trap
she was permitted to run about n small room.
and IL was noticed that the harder she ran the
more she sang. On other occasions tho mouse was
let out IN the same room. and she could always
be made to sing simply By causing her to run
rapidly and become moro or less excited. When
eating or Gnawng her wooden cage tho singing
was also particularly loud, md was evidently
produced by exeriion of any kind.
Eleven days after her capture this tuncfrl
mouse gave birth to two young. and It was no.
tIced that IL was just previous to, and for some
time after their birth. that Mus sang most con-
tinuously. by tho middle OF December tho
young gave their mother considerable anxiety
They were the size OF respectable peanuts. and
old enough To get out OF the nest and 20 sprawl:
Ing about the cage. and their other was Obliged
to pick them up and carry them into the nest
again. This exertion caused her TO Keep up a
constant singing. and she no doubt lost her
temper, too. for on Dec. 81 she ate about one
half Of one Of her offspring, commencing ut It's
head. The one devourcd was tho more back
ward Of tho two, and the lively yonnrsier en-
tconced himself at tho other end cf the cage.
furthest away from his kind mother.
These two mice. mother and son. were not
very good specimens Of their kind An nhuh-
dant food supply IN time hettered their condition.
but they were at fret of poor appearance bags
OF bones. The singing mouse gave birth ~ time
to fourteen more Young divided into four Filters.
but the details mentioned In connection with
the first family. were repeated with slight varn-
tons. IL was discovered one morning that this
musical rodent had ievoured her spouse. and.
having broken up the family. she was removed
to n hot ~ OF alcohol. where she remains.
II lscyident that IL was not happy feelings that
made this mouse sing. She was evidently dis
ea-ed. and violent exertion caused her 10 make
the pleasant vurrllng sound which has been
called singing. When she was weakest and
anxious over her babies she also rnng great
cotton nest she would cover Mt the opposite end
of the cage and the Involuntary song would
commence.
reference TO tho writings Of various natural
lists " no have had singing mice also shows that
their cRptives sang while exerting themselves.
while running about the cage. turning the
wheel. or eating.
Tho writer OF this ha. also lad n second sing
ing mouse that exhibited all the characteristics
mentioned in the above instances. and there
can be no reasonable doubt that IL Is rather an
a-thmatic affection and not happy choice that
causes these little rolcuts to raise their voices
In song. w. T. u.