CLASS MAMMALIA. 59 



Family MURID^. 



Genus Mus, Linn. 



Mus minutus, Pallas. HARVEST MOUSE. 



This very beautiful and active little creature occurs in all 

 parts of Essex. In the winter time, it is found in corn-stacks, 

 especially those placed in the fields, and most frequently, I 

 think, in oat-ricks. I never discovered more than a dozen 

 in one rick, although others have informed me that they have 

 been found more abundantly in such situations. 



As a pet, the Harvest Mouse is very interesting, and rarely 

 quiet, day or night. They are very peaceable all through the 

 winter, and any number may be kept together ; but, in the 

 spring fighting goes on until all, or nearly all, the males are 

 destroyed and eaten, for they are dreadful cannibals. On the 

 whole, I can strongly recommend them as pets. They are ' 

 sweet, not at all mousy in odour, and very amusing in their 

 ways. The longest time I have had them in confinement is 

 over two years, but I never could make them so tame as my 

 pets of the next species (Mus sylvaticus}. I have taken 

 every precaution possible, but have never been able to get 

 them to rear their young in confinement. All might 

 proceed well for a few days, and then their cannibal 

 tastes would be indulged in, and the entire brood of 

 young would be destroyed and eaten. 



Indoors, Harvest Mice do not become torpid ; nor do 

 they when living in corn-ricks. I have never found any 

 young in corn-ricks, although they are said to breed there. 

 I consider their breeding-season is entirely confined to the 

 summer months. This habit perhaps helps to prevent them 

 becoming the pests to the farmer and gardener that some 

 of the other mice undoubtedly are. Their numbers also are 

 so small, they never can do much damage ; and, as their 



