54 



SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



33. — Common Mouse. 



and when allowed to run about a room never attempt to 

 escape. 



The common mouse produces young to the number of 

 five or six, several times during the course of the year. 

 In about a fortnight they leave the mother, and obtain 

 their living independently. 



To this species Mr. Waterhouse (see ' Zool. of 

 Beagle') refers six specimens in Mr. Darwin's collec- 

 tion : " Two were found living in the short grass near 

 the summit of the island of Ascension, where the 

 climate is temperate. Two others were procured on 

 a small stony and arid island, near Porto Praya, the 

 ca|)ital of St. Jago, in the Cape de Verde Islands, 

 where the climate is very hot and dry. Excepting during 

 the rainy season these little animals can never taste fresh 

 water, nor does the island afford any succulent plant. 

 A s])ecimen was also procured on a grassy clift' on East 

 Falkland island, at the distance of a mile from any habi- 



