78 RODENTIA 



of the word, but we know it lays up stores of food for 

 winter consumption. Being strictly nocturnal, these pretty 

 little animals, though so abundant, are — unlike the Voles 

 — seldom seen abroad in the daytime. During the last 

 four months I have kept several in a cage with a 

 covered-in portion at one end. In this den they have 

 formed a nest of cotton and other soft materials, in which 

 they pass the day snugly curled up and apparently fast asleep. 

 After dark they come out to feed, and remain very active 

 throughout the night, even although the gas be burning 

 brightly in the room. When feeding, the motion of the under 

 jaw is so rapid as almost to amount to vibration. Some 

 weeks ago one escaped from the cage, and has since lived 

 at large in the room, hiding itself during the day in a 

 fold of the window-curtain. When surprised on the floor at 

 night it climbs the curtains with astonishing rapidity, runs 

 along the picture-rods, and, with a knowing look, sits up in 

 kangaroo-fashion cleaning its face with its paws. 



Among those that have passed through my hands I have 

 noticed considerable variation in size and also in colour, 

 some being much darker than others, the result of more black 

 on the tips of the hairs. Probably these differences of tint 

 are connected with the seasonal changes of fur. 



Mvs sylvaticus is included in Neill's list (1808), and in 

 Ehind's list (1836). 



HARVEST MOUSE. 



MUS MINUTUS Pall. 



My efforts to obtain specimens of this interesting little 

 animal from the district have proved singularly unsuccessful, 

 and I find myself practically unable to add to the few records 



