WOOD MOUSE. 255 



feet delicate ; the pollex of the fore foot is reduced 

 to a mere knob, the third toe longest, the fourth 

 nearly as long, the second much longer than the 

 fifth or outer. Of the five toes of the hind foot, 

 the three middle are nearly equal, and much longer, 

 the first shorter than the fifth. The general colour 

 of the upper parts is reddish-brown, mixed with 

 blackish hairs ; of the lower parts white, the colours 

 meeting abruptly on the sides. There is a yellowish 

 spot on the breast, between the fore legs ; and the 

 lower surface of the tail is white. The stomach is 

 elliptical, eight-twelfths long, the intestine, which is 

 singularly delicate and diaphanous, is twenty inches 

 in length ; the coecum enlarged to about double the 

 thickness of the rest, being three-twelfths in dia- 

 meter. Three individuals present the following di- 

 mensions : 



In. Lines. In. Lines. In. Lines* 



Length to end of tail ...6 8 66 60 



of head 1 2 12 12 



ear 6 06 06 



tail 3 3 30 29 



Individuals differ considerably in colour, some 

 being brownish-red, or light yellowish-red, above, 

 with the lower parts nearly pure white, others of a 

 duller tint above, and greyish beneath. 



The Long- Tailed Field Mouse produces from 

 five to eight at a birth, and is supposed to litter 

 several times in the year. It is in consequence of 

 this prolificacy very abundant in many districts, 

 and frequently commits considerable ravages in the 



