SOME OBSERVATIONS ON BRITISH MICE. 347 



harvest-mice to weigh down a halfpenny on the scale. This 

 statement is made on the authority of Gilbert White, and 

 though true in his time is true no longer ; the halfpenny has 

 considerably lessened in size since his book was written. 

 Taking the weight of the modern halfpenny as the base of 

 our calculatioUj this would give the weight of a mouse as 

 the tenth of an ounce, which is absurd. 



The extraordinary agility and lightness of the species now 

 under consideration are almost incredible, and the nimble 

 manner in which he will swarm up a stalk of grass or corn 

 without breaking it must be seen to be believed. His 

 unwearying activity is very surprising. I could hardly come 

 near the cage where one of this species was confined with- 

 out finding him busily occupied with some form of exercise 

 or another. His favourite amusement was jumping ^]up and 

 down from a twig placed horizontally across his cage. I 

 once counted him take as many as fifty jumps up and down, 

 without pausing to take breath ; the speed was very great, 

 the eye being scarcely able to follow his movements. His 

 time for sleeping seemed to be from twelve o'clock p.m. 

 to nine o'clock in the morning. 



This mouse is admirably suited for being kept as a pet ; 

 his beauty of colour, his lively habits, and especially the 

 fact of his being active in the daytime, make him a very 

 desirable addition to one's household. His surprising feats 

 may thus be easily observed, and notice should be taken of 

 his prehensile tail, with which he alone, of British mice, 

 is endowed. 



This member is of the greatest service to him. When 

 walking on a bending twig, he passes it lightly along a 

 neighbouring branch, and so steadies himself ; he will even 

 perform his toilette while swaying to and fro upon a stalk 

 of corn, keeping his position solely by his hind feet and his 



