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Updated: June 23, 2025
"But there are others who have even greater need of pockets, and among them are the Pocket Mice. Of course, it is because of their pockets that they are called Pocket Mice. All of these pretty little fellows live in the dry parts of the Far West and Southwest in the same region where Longfoot the Kangaroo Rat lives. They are close neighbors and relatives of his.
"Well, Longfoot is built on the same plan as Nimbleheels and for the same purpose," continued Old Mother Nature. "He is a jumper." "Then I know what that long tail is for," cried Peter. "It is to keep him balanced when he is in the air so that he can jump straight." "Right again, Peter," laughed Old Mother Nature. "That is just what it is for.
You see, he has pockets in his cheeks." "Like mine?" asked Striped Chipmunk quickly. "No, they are on the outside instead of the inside of his cheeks. Yours are inside." "I think mine must be a lot handier," asserted Striped Chipmunk, nodding his head in a very decided way. "Longfoot seems to think his are quite satisfactory," replied Old Mother Nature.
Under the mound he has little tunnels in all directions, a snug little bedroom and storerooms for food. He is very industrious and dearly loves to dig. "Longfoot likes to visit his relatives sometimes, and where there are several families living near together, little paths lead from mound to mound. He comes out mostly at night, probably because he feels it to be safer then.
As I said before, Trader is one of the most interesting little people I know of, and he does very, very funny things. "Now we come to the handsomest member of the family, Longfoot the Kangaroo Rat, so called because of his long hind legs and tail and the way in which he sits up and jumps. Really he is not a member of the Rat branch of the family, but closely related to the Pocket Mice.
"Where do they live?" asked Johnny Chuck, for Johnny had been unable to stay away from school another day. "In the dry, sandy parts of the Southwest, places so dry that it seldom rains, and water is to be found only long distances apart," replied Old Mother Nature. "Then how does Longfoot get water to drink?" demanded Chatterer the Red Squirrel.
"Now don't you little people think you have learned enough about the Mouse family?" "You haven't told us about Nibbler the House Mouse yet. And you said you would," protested Peter Rabbit. "And when we were learning about Longfoot the Kangaroo Rat you said he was most closely related to the Pocket Mice. What about them?" said Johnny Chuck. Old Mother Nature laughed.
Then, too, in that hot country it is cooler at night. The dusk of early evening is his favorite playtime. If Longfoot has a quarrel with one of his relatives they fight, hopping about each other, watching for a chance to leap and kick with those long, strong hind feet. Longfoot sometimes drums with his hind feet after the manner of Trader the Wood Rat. "Now I think this will do for this morning.
The upper and under parts of his tail are almost or quite black, and the tail ends in a tuft of long hair which is pure white. His feet are also white. His head is rather large for his size, and long. He has a long nose. Longfoot has a number of cousins, some of them much smaller than he, but they all look very much alike."
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