t 129 ] 



an unfailing one procured, by thickly ftrewing is 

 many pecks of wheat on a plot of ground as there 

 are half acres in contemplation for planting; which 

 quantity I am perfuaded would be more than fuffi- 

 •'cicnt, were fuch an afTigned fpace guarded from 

 the depredation of birds, and the inroad of mice. 



Perhaps it may not be unufeful to give a fketch 

 of a hiftory of this delving animal: not merely as 

 illuftrative of the foregoing plan of planting, but to 

 point out an early mode of diminifliingits numbers, 

 which remove more feed corn than the hufbandman 

 is aware of; I believe frequently more than the 

 winged ravagers which he is often on his guard 

 againft. The fketch of hiftory I propofe, is fuggefted 

 by having been frequently of a parry% with other 

 fchool lads, in traverfing the ftubbles for the habita- 

 tions of the field mice, from which excurfions we 

 rarely returned without numerous captives. Our 

 fignal of difcovery was a fmall heap of mould, thrown 

 fonrtetimes by, and oftentimes over the firft entrance 

 of their runs; generally at uncertain diftances, there 

 were other holes; fometimes many fcreened by 

 thickets of ftubble or weeds; thefp when we found 

 we ftopped up; and then traced their avenues from 

 the firft entrance through many winding paths, a 

 little beneath the furface; at other times it led to a 



Vol. VI. K cell 



