List of the Fauna of the County. Ill 



tineinent is over two years, but I never could make tliem so 

 tame as my pets of the next species [Mm sulcatirus). 

 In-doors they do not become torpid, nor when living in corn- 

 ricks. I have never found any young in corn-ricks, although 

 they are said to breed there, and I consider their breeding- 

 season is entirely confined to the summer months. This 

 habit perhaps helps to prevent them becoming the pests 

 some of the other mice undoubtedly are to the farmer and 



gardener.^ 



Mus sYLVATicus. Wood Mouse.— This gentle little creature 

 and delightful home pet is one of the most destructive of its 

 race; in fields, gardens, or plantations, uewly sown peas or 

 corn, or recently planted bulbs or shrubs, are especial objects 

 of its attention. It is rarely found in houses, barns, or ricks, 

 preferring much the shelter of a hedgerow or wood. I 

 generally have some of these mice in confinement, and they 

 are very friendly one with the other, so that as many as you 

 please may be kept together, even if they are quite strangers. 

 This herding together seems natural to the Wood Mouse, 

 fourteen or fifteen, and even more, may sometimes be dug out 

 of one burrow. They seem also to work together in storing 

 provisions, the bunches of growing barley or other corn 

 showing plainly where the storehouse has been ; but nothnig 

 in the way of vegetable food seems to come amiss to this 

 very abundant mouse. Albinos are occasionally taken, and 

 the colour of different specimens varies considerably in shades 

 of red. Of all our native mice this is most easily tamed ; 

 an occasional specimen is m.ore than usually h'iendly, and 

 may be made to come into the hand within a month of 

 capture. I have never succeeded in rearing the young of 

 either this or the harvest mouse in confinement. 



5 [This little animal, with the exception of Sorexjnjgmceus, the smallest 

 British mammal, was first noticed as an inhabitant of this country by 

 Gilbert Wliite (Letters X. and XII.) He gave Pennant a description of 

 the tiny nest in his own inimitable style, and adds, " This wonderful pro- 

 creant cradle, an elegant instance of the efforts of instinct, was found in 

 £t wheat-field suspended in the head of a thistle."— En.] 



