254 



THE WOOD MOUSE, OR LONG-TAILED 

 FIELD MOUSE. 



Mus sylvaticus. LINN. 

 PLATE XXVI. 



Ears scarcely Jialfthe length of the head; tail nearly as 

 long as the head and bqdy ; upper parts reddish-brown, 

 lower greyish-white, with a light yellowish-red spot on the 

 breast. 



Mus sylvaticus. Linn. Syst. Nat. I. 84; Desmar. Mammal. 301 ; 

 Jenyns, Brit. Vert. Anim. 30 ; -Bell, Brit. Qjiadr. 305. 



THIS very beautiful little creature is generally dis- 

 tributed in Britain, residing not so much in woods, 

 as its name implies, as in thickets, hedges, corn- 

 fields, and gardens. It resembled the Domestic 

 Mouse in form, and is nearly of the same size, but 

 is easily distinguished by its reddish colour, and ils 

 more elongated tail. Its body is moderately full, 

 its head oblong and obtuse, its eyes rather large 

 and prominent, its ears broad and rounded, its tail 

 very elongated. The limbs are rather short, the 



