140 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 
I have thrice had examples handed to me which were 
captured in dwelling-houses during winter, and have often 
seen its nests turned up by the plough. Having trapped 
them commonly in January and February during frost and 
snow, I conclude it does not hibernate in the true sense 
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. 
Mus sylvaticus is included in Neill’s list (1808), and in 
Rhind’s list (1836). 
Mus minutus Pall. Harvest Mousse. 
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 
already in existence. Not only must it be very local, but I 
do not think it can be anywhere numerous, and it would 
