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THE MEADOW MOUSE*. 



SHORT-TAILED FIELD MOUSE. 



IN their general manners,, and in most of their 

 -habits of life, these animals, which are oftentimes 

 found in too great abundance both in great Britain 

 and Ireland, seem very nearly allied to the Field 

 Mice. It has, however, been remarked, that they 

 frequent moist, in preference to dry situations, 

 and that they are seldom known to infest gardens. 

 They dig holes in the earth, where they amass corn, 

 nuts, and acorns; but corn is their most favourite 

 food. Their holes, although they are generally less 

 spacious, and not dug so deep in the ground, are si- 

 milar to those of the Long-tailed Field Mice, and are 

 usually divided into two compartments. Dr. Barry 

 informs us, that the roads, or tracks, made by these 

 animals amongst the moss, and short heath, in : the 

 Orkney Islands, are about three inches in breadth, 

 and sometimes extend for several miles in length. 



* Mus arvalis. Linnceus. Le Campagnol. Buffbn. 

 For the description of the Meadow Mouse, see the Synopsis, p. 46, 

 No. 30. 



He 



