The Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin Volume 11 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 Excerpt: ...nest is sometimes found in a tuft of grass above the surface, or under an inverted sod. In cultivated fields, it lives under fences and, like the mice and arvicolae, takes up its abode in grain that has been cut and left standing out. "The food of this species appears to consist chiefly of herbaceous plants, with their seeds, and the seeds and nuts of trees when it inhabits the woods. In cultivated fields, it devours grain, of which it has sometimes been observed to collect stores in its burrows" (I. c, p. 96). Specimens examined from Illinois, Wisconsin and adjoining states: Illinois--Fox Lake, 3; Galena, Jo Daviess Co., 3 = 6. Wisconsin--Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., 5; Conover, Vilas Co., 1; (S. C.) Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., 12 = 18. Michigan--Dowagiac, Cass Co., 2. Napaeozapus insignis (miller). Woodland Jumping Mouse. As has been previously stated, the Woodland Jumping Mouse may be looked for in northern Wisconsin, for, although it has not as yet been found within our limits, it has been taken in northwestern Michigan. The white tipped tail and absence of the small upper premolar will distinguish it from Z. hudsonius. Family ERETHIZONTID. American Porcupines. The American Porcupines are short legged, slow-moving animals, with a thick body covering of hair mixed with quills or spines. They differ from the Old World Porcupines in having perfect clavicles; the skull somewhat different shaped; tuberculate soles of feet; absence of a pollex, etc.; and the quills are also much smaller. They are largely arboreal in habits. The quills or spines are loosely attached and fall out easily, but the animal is not able to forcibly eject them, and the legend of the Porcupine "shooting" its quills is, of course, absurd, t Five species and subspecies belonging...