POPULATION-STRUCTURE AND BREEDING-SEASON OF THE FIELD-MOUSE, MUS-BOODUGA-BOODUGA GRAY

Studies on certain aspects of the population and breeding in Mus booduga booduga Gray were conducted from January 1986 to December 1987 at Kasaragod (12-degrees 30'N 75-degrees-E), Kerala, India. Altogether 363 male and 317 female mice were collected. The male mice were significantly heavier and bigger than the females. Individual body weight varied from 4 to 22 g. Breeding activity was noticed throughout the year, with a peak immediately after the southwest monsoon (September to November). Litter size based on embryo count varied from two to eight (mean 4.78 +/- 0.17) per female.