The Field-Mouse.2 OF ORKNEY. 25 



Species 3. — The Field-Mouse. 



Mus Domesticus Medius, Rail St/n. Quad. 218. Mus Sylvaticus, Lin. S^s.84. 

 Brit. Zool. 103. Pen. Syn. 302. 



Found prelty common in the fields, burrowing in holes 

 of the earth. It lays up a small heap of grain for winter pro- 

 vision ; is sometimes dispossessed of its apartment by the 

 larger earthing field-bee, which, it seems, is not so capable 

 to form for itself a convenient habitation, and therefore shifts 

 the best way it can, by thus forcing a sheltering place. 



Species 4. — The Short-tailed Field-Mouse. 



Rail Syn.Muad. 218. Mus Agrestis, Faun. Suec. 30. Brit. Zool. 104. Ork. 



Vole. Mouse. 



This species is found very common in the mossy and 

 foggy heaths, where it makes itself tracks of several miles long 

 (if they are forthright), over the whole heath. These tracks 

 are about three inches broad, much worn by continual tread- 

 ing, and warped through a thousand directions. Where the 

 fog is short they are open, but where this is long, by it arch- 

 ed above ; seldom turn off for a stone, but, turning half round 

 it, proceed in their former course. 



