116 COMMON BRITISH ANIMALS 



influence on cattle as the shrew has. If a dormouse 

 but breathe upon a cow its udder becomes diseased. 



Mice and Rats. 



Mice and rats form the most extensive family 

 among the rodents. They are limited to the old 

 world^ where they are found in every country except 

 Madagascar. All are small animals with large eyes 

 and ears and rudimentary thumbs. The tail is 

 usually long and scaly. There are five representa- 

 tives of the family in this country : (1) The harvest 

 mouse, (2) the wood mouse, (3) the common house 

 mouse, (4) the black or old English rat, and (5) the 

 Hanoverian brown or grey rat. 



They are woefully destructive creatures, especially 

 the house mouse and the grey rat. Nothing is too 

 hard for them to attack with their powerful teeth. 

 They are quick and noiseless in their movements, 

 and their colour helps to preserve them from detec- 

 tion. They are distinguished from the voles by 

 their long scaly tails, pointed muzzles, and large 

 ears. 



The Harvest Mouse. 



Next to the lesser shrew, the harvest mouse is the 

 smallest British mammal. It is 2|^ inches long, and 

 the tail and ears are relatively short. In colour 

 it is reddish yellow on the back and white on the 

 under parts and neck. The feet are naked below, 

 but slightly hairy above. 



