262 MAMMALIA. 



tion when singing was an erect one, standing on its hind feet, and 

 holding by its forward ones to the wall or bracket, almost invariably 

 turning its face toward us. It remained with us several weeks, and 

 at length became so familiar as to appsar to enjoy company, seem- 

 ingly putting forth all its strength to amuse us with its little song, 

 which improved daily in tone and volume, but not in compass. Its 

 voice became so clear that we could frequently hear it in the parlor 

 that opened out of the dining room. I frequently invited my visitors 

 to listen to it. My next-door neighbors occasionally heard it in their 

 house, but not very distinctly. It evidently did not feel at home 

 there. Suddenly as it came it disappeared probably falling a prey 

 to some cat during its rambles from house to house.' 



o 



In 1804 Dr. Samuel Cramer, of Virginia, communicated to Dr. 

 Barton the following very curious account of the influence of music 

 upon the common House Mouse. He said : " One evening, in the 

 month of December, as a few officers on board of a British man of 

 war, in the harbour of Portsmouth, were seated around the fire, one 

 of them began to play a plaintive air on the violin. He had scarce- 

 ly performed ten minutes, when a mouse, apparently frantic, made 

 its appearance, in the centre of the floor, near the large table which 

 usually stands in the wardroom, the residence of the lieutenants in 

 ships of the line. The strange gestures of the little animal strongly 

 excited the attention of the officers, who, with one consent, resolved 

 to suffer it to continue its singular actions unmolested. Its exer- 



O 



tions now appeared to be greater, every moment. It shook its 

 head, leaped about the table, and exhibited signs of the most extatic 

 delight. 



" It was observed, that in proportion to the gradation of the tones 

 of the soft point, the extacy of the animal appeared to be increased, 

 and vice versa. After performing actions, which an animal so dimin- 

 utive would, at first sight, seem incapable of, the little creature, to 

 the astonishment of the delighted spectators, suddenly ceased to 



