LETTER XXXVII. 



nothing that is prepared for human subsistence ; and 

 if they force their passage through a house they will 

 not touch any thing except such roots or vegetables 

 as they may happen to find in it. If a man or any 

 animal should chance to fall in their way, the little 

 animals are no way discouraged by any disproportion 

 of strength; but fly furiously at their opponent, with 

 a barking noise like that of a young whelp, and no- 

 thing- can induce them to relinquish the attack. 



Wherever they pass they destroy every trace of 

 vegetation, and when subsistence fails, they are said 

 to divide into two different armies, which engage 

 with the most deadly hostility, and continue fighting 

 and devouring each other till they are all entirely de- 

 stroyed : such myriads of them have been found lying 

 dead, that the air has been infected, and sometimes 

 caused malignant distempers : numbers of them are 

 also destroyed by foxes, weazels, &c. which follow 

 them in their march, so that from what place soever 

 they come, none ever return from their migrations^ 

 Contemplate, my dear sir, the singular history of this 

 animal, and then say whether the God of Nature be 

 not wonderful in his works. 



THE MOUSE 



is an animal which is diffused throughout almost every 

 part of the world : it seems to be a constant attendant 

 on man, and is seldom found but near his dwelling. 

 When viewed without that prejudice which most peo- 

 ple entertain against this creature, it is a pretty little 

 animal. In its general formation, as well as its colour, 

 it resembles a rat, but without that aspect of ferocity 

 by which the latter is distinguished. Its skin i& sleek 

 and soft, its eyes lively, all its limbs are formed with 

 delicacy, and its motions are quick and active. In 

 this animal, as well as in the rat, the long naked tail 

 has the most disgusting appearance. 



The mouse produces young several times in the 

 year, and has generally ten or a dozen at a litter ; and 

 in fifteen days the young ones are able to provide for 

 themselves. Aristotle says, that having shut up a 

 mouse big with young in a vessel and provided plen- 



