Mus. MAMMALIA. FERA. 19 



This species is noticed both by Boece and Sibbald, without any facts being 

 stated illustrative of the times or places of its occurrence on our shores. In 

 December 1817, however, a solitary individual was shot while lying on a 

 small rock at tlie Sound of Stockness on the east coast of Harris, which was 

 upwards of 10 feet in length. The tusks measured 8i inches in length. On 

 the shores of Spitzber^en it measures 15 feet in length, and 10 in circumfe- 

 rence, and the tusks are 20 inches in length. It has been conjectured, that 

 the ivory bits which Strabo enumerates in the articles of British commerce, 

 were manufactured from the teeth of this animal. Perhaps the influence of 

 civilization may have so reduced the geographical limits of this species, as 

 now to confine its dwelling to the Arctic Seas. It was formerly captured in 

 abundance in the Norwegian Seas. 



GLIRES. 



1. Summits of the grinders with conical processes, covered with 



enamel. 



Gen. XVII. MUS. Mouse. — Incisors with pointed summits ; 

 three grinders in each jaw; destitute of cheek-pouches: 

 hind-legs of moderate length ; tail nearly naked, annulated 

 with scales. 



a. MICE. 



24. M. Musculus. Common Mouse. Body about 3 inches in 

 length; fur yellowish-brown above, mixed with black hairs; 

 beneath iron-grey. 



Merr. Pin. p. 167 — Sibh. Scot. p. 12 — Ray, Quad. 218 — M. Mus. Lin.. 

 Syst. 1. 83. JF, Llygoden ; G, Luch — Common in houses. 

 The mouse is remarkabh' prolific. We have found seventeen young ones 

 in a nest, all nearly of the same size, and blind. Albinoes occasionally occur, 

 and the variety may be propagated. 



25. M. sylvaticus. Field-Mouse. — Body about 4| inches in 

 length ; fur yellowish-brown above, beneath white, the margin 

 of the former colour, and a spot on the breast ferruginous. 



Sibh. Scot. p. 12 — M. domesticus medius, Ray, Quad. 218 M. sylvati- 

 cus, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 84 — Perm. Brit. Zool. 1. p. 120 IF, Lygoden 



ganolig. In ploughed fields and gardens, common. 

 The fur is very like that of the preceding on the back, but the sides incline 

 to rufous ; the ears are larger, the head longer, and the eyes more prominent. 

 The weight is about an ounce. The tail is black above, grey beneath, and of 

 the length of the body. This species never frequents houses, but takes up 

 its abode in cultivated fields and gardens, forming its retreat under ground, 

 in which it lays up a store of seeds and roots before winter, and, in cold wea- 

 ther, when the air is about eleven degi'ees above the freezing point, it be- 

 comes torpid. It brings forth about nine young ones at a litter. 



26. M. messoriiLS. Harvest Mouse. — Length of the body 

 about 2^ inches, of the tail 2 inches; fur chestnut-broAvn above, 

 white beneath, the colours divided by a straight line. 



Wliite'sVforks, 1. p. 58 — Penn. Brit. Zool. 1. p. 121 — Mont. Lin. Trans, 

 via. p. 274. Hampshire, White. Wiltshire, M<mt — Inhabits corn fields 

 and ricks in England. 



b2 



