552 MURIDAZ—MICROMYS 
in the kitchen of the house itself, there seemed to be nothing but rats 
in plenty. 
Like A. sylvaticus, wintoni probably breeds throughout the greater 
part of the year. Mr Adams has found new-born young in July, 
October, and November; he once met with a litter of six. We are 
indebted to the same gentleman for a sketch of what appears to be 
a well-marked case of superfcetation (Fig. 88); the right uterine cornu 
contained four relatively well-developed embryos, while in the left cornu 
were two much smaller. 
According to Melchior, the typical form lays up winter stores and 
sometimes enters houses and corn-ricks in winter. Its pairing season 
begins in February and continues at intervals throughout the summer, 
there being from four to eight young in a litter. He makes the 
remarkable assertion that if a female be the tenant of a room and with- 
out a mate, she will pair with the House Mouse; the progeny of such a 
union are described as recognisable hybrids showing some similarity to 
each parent, but being characterised constantly by their long hind feet 
and dark-coloured soles. 
GENUS MICROMYS. 
1841. Micromys, A. Dehne, “ Micromys agilis, kleinmaus, ein neues Siugthier der 
Fauna von Dresden,” 1; based on Micromys agilis of Dehne=Mus soricinus of 
Hermann= Micromys minutus soricinus ; Thomas, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., May 
1905, 492 (part) ; Miller (Catalogue). 
Mus of most writers prior to Thomas, 1905, quoted above. 
The genus J/tcromys is now restricted to the Harvest 
Mice. These are regarded as belonging to a single species, 
M. minutus, which, notwithstanding a wide distribution extend- 
ing from Britain through the central parts of Europe and Asia 
to Japan, appears to be subject to surprisingly little geographical 
variation. 
In all the essential features of its organisation this genus 
is not unlike Afodemus, and there can be little doubt, although 
the positive evidence of fossils is not yet forthcoming, that it is 
descended from primitive Afodemus-like ancestors. JMJzcromys 
is characterised by numerous external and internal features 
which are apparently the outcome of a peculiar specialisation 
1 Mr Adams writes :—“I sent the specimen to Barrett-Hamilton, and he sent 
me his opinion that it was not a case of superfcetation, but that the two small 
embryos had died,” 
