The Marble times and Crystal silver lance., 1901-04-12
THE MOUSE AT HOME.
LITTLE RODENT LIVES LONG
WITHOUT FOOD.
Is Agile and Graceful-Not at All VI
cious in Disposition, He May Easily BE
Trained-Most Active at NiGht-Easily
Tanned.

The common little house mouse is
probably the best-known wild animal
in America. 1t is almost impossible
to avoid learning something of the ap-
pearance and habits of this little fel-
low, 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 object lesson,
a brief description of his external ap-
pearance may not be out of place. In
a certain quaint dictionary l once
possessed the definition of mouse"
was given as "a small rat" and this Is
no. such a very bad one, after all,
except for the fact that the reader is
apt to be less familiar with the appear
ance of a 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
little toes are provided with sharp,
slightly hooked nails. His tail is
round and tapering, scaly and with a
slight covering of short hair. In color
he is dusky gray above and ashy be-
meath. His eyes and most of his
whiskers are black, and his front teeth
are yellowish.
Altogether he is very dainty little
fellow, and if persons would only stop
to study him little, instead of throw
every time he puts in an appearance,
they would soon find him a very in
telligent and attractive companion. He
is agile and graceful in his movements,
and not at all vicious in disposition,
says a writer in the Hartford Times.
For some time past l have had num-
ber of mice in captivity, and l find
them very amusing pets. They will
eat anything, and are so tame that they
will take food from my hand or drink
from little vessel held in the fingers.
They are most. active at night, but
often play about in the daytime. They
are very bright and Immediately give
their attention to any unusual sight or
sound. To do this they usually pause
with their head slightly on one side,
and with most inquiring look in their
eyes. After eating they wash them
selves very rapidly 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 house
they manage to get along somehow,
even if the provisions are carefully
locked up for months at time. When
hungry, however, they are very perse-
vering 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 hold for their sharp,
hooked claws. They have been known
to descend rope and eat up the con-
tents Of a basket hanging from the
ceiling. They make their nests of
scraps Of paper, wool, rags or any soft
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 let
ters, penwipers, and such like things.
There are several litters of young
every year, and generally from four to
ten in litter. When the young ones
are born they are very small, pink lit
tie creatures, naked and blind. The
mother is devoted to them and tends
them with great care and evident af-
fection. When they are 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 older ones by
their smaller size and younger looks.
When it becomes necessary to destroy
mice, perhaps the most humane way to
do it is with spring trap, which kills
them instantly with a blow. Poisoning
is very cruel, and this method is also
a menace to human life, not only be-
cause it is always dangerous to have
poison where there is possibility of
children getting hold of it, but because
the mice are apt to die in the walls,
floors and other inaccessible places.
L., IA