= —“~ 7. 
THE FIELD MOUSE 507 
1900, MUS SYLVATICUS CELTICUS, G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton, Proc. Zool. Soc., 
London, 401, pl. xxv., fig. 2; described from Caragh Lake, Co. Kerry, Ireland, 
and based on an immature specimen of JZ. s. sylvaticus; (type a female, 
No. 0.3.11.1 of Brit. Mus. collection, taken by Colonel J. W. Yerbury, 27th 
November 1894); Johnston; Millais ; Trouessart. 
1900. MUS SYLVATICUS TyPicUS, G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton, Proc. Zool. Soc., 
London, 404. 
Skovmus of the Norwegians; /e mulot of the French; de 
Waldmaus of the Germans. 
Synonymy :—The first item refers to the species sylvaticus; the 
remainder to the well-known sub-species common in Britain. As this 
species is also widely distributed in Continental Europe, it has received 
many names, but only those referring to British specimens are cited. 
The full synonymy will be found in Miller’s Catalogue. 
The British synonymy is simple. Unfortunately the common 
British Field Mouse was at one time considered a recognisable form, 
for which Bellamy’s name zztermedius became available, but Miller has 
shown that that is not the case. Unfortunately also, A. s. celticus 
cannot be retained as a distinct form. The synonymy and description 
of valid local forms is given separately below. 
Terminology :—This mouse, the J/us domesticus medius of Ray 
(1693), appears in the earlier subsequent natural histories (Pennant, 
1766 and 1768; Berkenhout, 1769) as the “Long-tailed Field Mouse,” 
a term used in opposition to the “ Short-tailed Field Mouse” (J/ccrotus). 
In his edition of 1776 Pennant shortened this name to “ Field Mouse.” 
He was followed by Fleming and Jenyns; but the longer term was 
retained as an alternative by Bingley (1809), and exclusively by 
Donovan (1815-1820). “Wood Mouse,” which is evidently a translation 
of the Latin specific name sy/vaticus, appeared first in Turton (1807), 
disappeared until 1837, when it was revived as an alternative, by Bell, 
from whom it was adopted by practically all subsequent writers, though 
sometimes with the longer name as an alternative, except Johnston 
(1903), who reverted to “ Long-tailed Field Mouse.” The latter term 
has become too long to apply to all the forms now recognised as 
distinct from sylvaticus, but if the adjective “long-tailed” be dropped, 
the oldest name for the animal in British zoology thus abbreviated 
becomes also the most appropriate, “Field Mouse” having its older 
significance of “ Wild” or “ Out-of-door Mouse” in contrast to “ House 
Mouse.” The name “Wood Mouse,” although short, is not nearly so 
appropriate, the common sy/vaticus being found in a wide range of 
habitats. 
Local names (non-Celtic):—Many of the names of other animals, 
e.g. shrew and dormouse, are sometimes applied indiscriminately to 
mice regardless of species. Thus when found in a bird’s nest the 
