Evening star., 1925-09-14
Interesting Facts About
the Little White Mouse

Most everybody has had some ex
perience with that little rodent known
as the common house mouse which
infests our cupboards and pantries.
but few people know what service
has been rendered to mankind by the
iittie white nlanse.. 1t was used to,
quite an extent, during the war for
the purpose Of detecting the presence
OF dangerous gases in and about the
trenches. A large number OF them
were shipped abroad by the Govern
ment for that purpose. 1t is known
that they were very quick in giving
alarm at the approach Of noxious
gases. for the reason that the oifac-
tory nerves were highly developed,
hence it is that they are very SEN
sitive to unusual odors. They were.
sometimes carried on submarines TO
detect the escape of ammonia from
the tanks and of gas from the electric
batteries. 1t Is well known that
white mice have sometimes been of
service in mining operations, their
peculiar actions giving warning of
the presence of foul gas. The syrnp-
toms they display on these occasions
are usually by frequent squeaking
and frantic attempts to bury their
noses. The little rodents are much
used for experimental purposes, and.
not long ago the civic branch of the
American Red Cross was greatly in
need of these little animals. they be
ing particularly ada pied to aid in
detecting the different stages of pneu.
monia, particularly in the Southern
cantonments, and a large number
were employed in United States lab.
oratories in detecting different stages
of pneumonia and fevers. just why
the little mouse is preferred to the
larger rodents or rats for scientific
research is not stated, but it may be
for the reason that this little creature
requires less food and occupies but
little space. They are also more
docile and easily handled. While they
are very tinid and nervous. they can
be easily managed by those with
whom they are familiar. but are very
wary in the presence OF strangers.
Il X Il
Where tae white mouse originated
has not been definitely determined.
They do not. so far as is known. exist
in a wild state. They are not freaks
of nature as are the white blackbirds,,
white crows, squirrels, peacocks and
other animals, not to mention the So
called white elephant. The white deer
has been seen from time to time, but
they are rare. These animals are alb
normal and their offspring does not
inherit their markings. Albinism may
occur in the human race as well as
in the animal kingdom, but the white
rat and white mouse are in a class by
themselves, as their color and traits
are transmitted to their young. These
0ttle animals are most prolific and
produce several litters during the sea
son. The period, of CESSATION is about
four weeks and they produce from
seven TO nine little ones at a time.
They are unadorned with fur on their
first appearance, but in the course of
eight days they are quite covered with
white silky hair and their little pink
eyes are opened soon after. The white
mouse is an albino throughout. All
their points-the tail. feet and ears
are pink: their eyes are like little
rubies. The buck is somewhat larger
than the doe. The latter are capable of
producing young when six weeks old,
but these early offspring are usually
weaklings and do not survive long.
The mouse is at its prime when three
mouths old, and they continue to pro-
duce progeny until they are two years
of age. Their longevity is about three
years. These little creatures are noe
turnal in their habits. and after doing
all day they come forth at nightfall
In search Of food. and after having
satisfied themselves they become very
frolicksome. When feeding they set
on their launches and hold their food
with their front paws, after the man
ner of a squirrel. They are really a
most available little pet. -
xx
For some time during the war they
were very scarce and hard TO procure,
and they demanded quite q high price,
but at present many of them can be
obtained at low figure, and prove
most interesting little pets. There is
quite a variety of fancy mice, the re-
suits OF crossing with other varieties,
and they appear In various coiers.
many being piebafd aor skewbald. OF
course, these are a nsongreittype The
so-caIled Japanese or walking mouse is
a most interesting little creature. 1t
Is well established that they are no
more Japanese than they are Portu-
guese, as they ere not confined TO any
particular country The original of
this breed is stated to have had
brain disorder, the result of some
peculiar operation, and 1t has become
HEREDITARY. hence their peculiar ac-
tions. which are manifested by the
continuous whirling about in one
place after the manner of the reli-
sious fanatics of Turkey, the New
Lewis or Whirling Dervishes- The
mouse, while spinning about, remains
on all four feet and revolves so rap
idly that it resembles a little bali of
fur They are usually black and
white and are somewhat smaller than
the white mice. They are very deli
cate and difficult to raise, eat but
little and are exceedingly docile and
tame. OF recent years they have be-
come quite a rarity.
In conclusion it may be said that
the singing mouse is a misnomer
their vocal ability is not very exten-
sive, and the wheeling sound that
they emit is the result of some affec-
ton of the throat, such as asthma,
and this peculiar noise, by stretching
the imagination, might resemble the
singing of a bird. Their respiration
is 120 breaths a minute, so the .chirps
or saueaks given forth by so-called
singing mouse are so frequent. that
they very much resemble the chirp
ing or twitter of a bird. : 1t may be
here stated that tiTeEe is a certain
provision of nature whereby certain
animals whose fur or plunage sbe-
comes perfectly Wnlte uQftnS the VIII
ter months in countries where there is
q great deal Of snow. This absence in
color protects them to some extent
from their common enemies. This
may he noted in the ermine and the
weasel and certain birds of the par
fridge family. for instance, the ptar-
migan. FRANKLIN STEELE.
Untimely Remembering.