MICE AND RATS. 1 89 



true for many generations, if not permanently. There is like- 

 wise some variation in size. 



With a tapering head and rather pointed muzzle, the Com- 

 mon Mouse has smaller eyes and ears than the Wood-Mouse, 

 the latter being rounded, and also shorter and narrower than 

 in that species ; the limbs, tail, and whiskers are Hkewise 

 relatively shorter than in the allied form. 



Distribution. — Although it has received a large number of 

 synonyms, to which it is unnecessary to allude here, it appears 

 that the Common Mouse has a practically cosmopolitan range, 

 at least so far as regions inhabited by Man are concerned. At 

 one time, indeed, it was thought that the Indian Mouse was a 

 distinct species, but this has now been shown not to be th(i 

 case. It is, however, somewhat curious that, according to Mr. 

 Blanford, there are certain parts of India, namely, the Punjab, 

 Sind, Rajputana, and portions of the North-West Provinces, 

 where the Common Mouse is totally unknown. 



That the species had not originally its present cosmopolitan 

 distribution, and that it has spread pari passu^ with the ad- 

 vance of Man, may be taken for granted. Which country con- 

 stituted its original home, it seems, however, quite impossible 

 to decide. It has been frequently urged that the Common 

 Mouse is a comparatively late immigrant into the British Island?^, 

 but if palaeontologists are right in assigning to it certain 

 fossilised remains found in the Pleistocene deposits of the 

 Thames Valley and some of the English caves, it is quite certain 

 that this cannot be the case. 



Habits. — In the case of such a familiar animal as the Com- 

 mon Mouse, it is unnecessary to say much in the way of its 

 habits, and we therefore content ourselves with quoting Mac- 

 gillivray's account, premising that, although generally found in 

 human habitations, the creature also sometimes frequents gar- 



