124 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



NOTES ON THE MICE OF ST KILDA. 



By W. Eagle Clarke. 



In the autumns (September and October) of 1910 and 191 1, 

 I spent nearly twelve weeks at St Kilda, devoting my time 

 to investigations on the migratory movements of birds and 

 on the fauna of the island generally. Among other 

 material obtained was a series of specimens of the two 

 peculiar mice the only indigenous terrestrial mammals 

 found there. These mice were described by my, alas, 

 late friend, Barrett - Hamilton in the Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society for 1899. One of them is the finest 

 British form of the Long - tailed Field Mouse, and is 

 known as Apodemus hirtensis ; while the other is a pretty 

 House Mouse, whose scientific name is Mus muralis. Of 

 these little animals, which are both very common and to 

 some extent harmful, a large collection of carefully prepared 

 specimens measured in the flesh was made by myself and 

 George Stout, who accompanied me as my assistant. I men- 

 tion this because the material hitherto available for exami- 

 nation has been very slight, and, moreover, chiefly preserved 

 in alcohol. 



Apodemus hirtensis. 



Mus hirtensis, Barrett-Hamilton, P.Z.S., 1899, p. Si, pi. ix., fig. 1. 

 Mus sylvaticus hirtensis, Barrett-Hamilton, P.Z.S., 1900, p. 404. 



The St Kilda Field Mouse is confined to the main 

 island, Hirta, and to the adjacent uninhabited isles of Soay 

 and Dun. It is most abundant where coarse grass prevails, 

 but is to be found almost everywhere in the crofted area, 

 in the neighbourhood of the houses, on the faces of cliffs, 

 and on the sides and hill-tops ; finding congenial retreats in 

 the rough stone-built " cleits " (which are such a feature in the 

 St Kilda landscape), and in the walls surrounding the crofts. 

 Some fine specimens were even captured in the store, which 

 is situated close to the water's edge, and is used for housing 

 the feathers of the Fulmar and other sea-fowl with which 

 the natives pay their rents to their generous Laird The 



