The times., 1900-12-26
THE COMMON MOUSE
A Dainty Little Fellow, Worthy oi
Appreciation
(From the Hartford Times.)

(From the Hartfnrd Times
The common little house mouse is prob
ably the best-known wild animal in
America. 1t is almost impossible to avoid
learning something of the appearance md
la bits OF this little fellow, for he acts
as private tutor on the subject in almost
every household.
As few of us are fond enough of him,
however, to pay strict attention when he
presents himself as an oSject-lesson.
brief description of his external appear
ance may not be out of place. In Ger
tain quaint dictionary / once possessed,
the definition OF mouse was given as "a
small rat" and this is not such very
bad one, after all, except for the TACT
that the reader is apt to be less familiar
with the appearance of rat than of
mouse. The total length of the latter
animal is about six and three eighths
inches, OF which the tail takes up nearly
one-half. His head is longish and his
nose sharp. His ears are large and erect,
with very little hair on either surface.
His legs are slender. and his delicate lit
tie toes are provided with sharp, slightly
hooked nails. His tail Is round and taper
ing scaly and with slight covering OF
short hair. In color he is dusky grey
above, and ashy beneath. His eyes. and
most of his whiskers are black, and his
sharp front teeth are yellcwish.
Altogether, he is a very dainty little
fellow, and IL people would only stop
to study him little, instead of throwing
things at him, or calling in the cat every
time he puts in an appearance, they
would soon find him very Intelligent
and attractive companion. He is very
agile and graceful in his movements,
and not at all vicious in disposition.
For some time past, 1 have had a num-
7 lr,I +hnr.
very amusing pets. They will eat any
thing, and are SO tame that they will
take food from my hand or drink from a
little vessel held in the fingers. They
are most active at night, but often play
55eeat in the daytime. They are very
bright, and Immediately give their at
tention TO any unusual sight or sound.
To do this they usually pause. with the
head slightly to one side, and with a
most enquiring look in the eyes. After
eating, they wash themselves very rapid
ly with their front paws.
Where there is an abundance of food,
mice eat great deal. but they seem
able to live on very little, and when once
well established in n house they manage
to get along somehow, even II the pro-
visions are carefully locked up for
months at a time. When hungry. how
ever, they are very pfesevering in their
efforts TO get food. and will gnaw their
way into boxes and cupboards, scale
walls, and even cross ceilings when the
latter are rough enough to afford a hold
for their sharp, hooked claws. They
have been known to descend a rope and
eat UP the contents of a basket hanging
from the ceiling.
They make their nests Of scraps of
paper. wool. rags. or any scottish material,
which they usually chop up very small
with their teeth. These homes are usually
made in a hole in the wall. or beneath
the floor, or In an old box, drawer or
other convenient place. Often, when
clearing out an old desk or trunk. one
comes upon such a nest, made of fine
particles of old letters, penwipers and
such like things.
There are several litters of youug
every year. and generally from four to
ten in q litter. When the young ones are
born, they are very small, pink little
creatures, naked and blind. The mother
is devoted TO them, and tends them with
great care and evident affection. When
they are a few weeks old, they begin to
come out of their hole to play about and
see what the world is made OF. They may
easily be distinguished from the old ones
by their smaller size and younger looks.
While the normal color is grey, very
rarely a black specimen is seen and
The white mice. with red eyes, which are
often kept as pets, are alblnos OF this
species. Others are spotted black and
white and at times have been sold at
quite good prices as fancy" mice.
OF the many enemies OF the little ro-
dents. perhaps the house cat stands at the
head of the list. Many people judge a cat
chiefly by her qualities as mouse hunter,
and all things considered. 1t is perhaps
Just as we'll that she does take hand in
the game occasionally.
Next to the cat, perhaps the owls and
hawks account for the greatest number.
and foxes, coons, weasels, skunks, and
But the troubles of the rodents do not end
here Scores of ingenious traps have been
invented for their destruction, and they
also are poisoned in great numbers every
year.
When it becomes necessary to destroy
mice. perhaps the most humane way to do
it is with the spring trap. which Kills
them instantly by blow. POISONING Is
very cruel. and this method is also
menace to human life, not only because IL
is always dangerous to have poison where
there is a possibility of children getting
hold OF IL but because the mice are apt to
die In The walls, Hoors. and other inacces-
sible places.
browning is also cruel, though l once
knew two dear elderly ladies. who were so
that they used to drown
their mice In warm water, because" they
said. "it Is so cruel to drown the poor
things in cold water. in the middle OF
winter. too"
Central location. good service steam heat ofhces