81 



MEADOW MOUSE. 



Mus Arvalis. M. cauda vnciali, auriculis velkreprominuUs, pal- 

 ms subtetradactylis, corpore fusco. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. 

 p. 134. Pall. Glir. p. 74. No. 19. 



Dusky-ferruginous short-tailed Rat, deep ash-coloured beneath, 

 with ears longer than the fur, and subtetradactylous fore-feet. 



Mus gregarius. Lin. Syst. Nat. ed. 12. p. 8j. 



Short- tailed Field Mouse. Brit. Zool. No. 3 1. 



Meadow Mouse. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 205. 



Le Campagnol. Buff. 7. p. 369. pi. 47. 



THIS species, which is very common in our 

 own island, is readily distinguished from the rest 

 of the British species by the shortness of its tail ; 

 measuring, according to Mr. Pennant, six inches 

 from nose to tail; the tail being only an inch and 

 half long. The colour of the animal is dusky fer- 

 ruginous above, and deep ash-coloured beneath. 

 It is a general inhabitant of Europe, and even 

 extends to Siberia. It is also found in equal 

 plenty in many parts of North America. In its 

 manners it resembles the Mus syhaticus or long- 

 tailed Field Mouse ; but is more commonly found 

 in moist rather than dry situations. It makes its 

 nest in meadows, and produces a litter of about 

 eight at a time. Its favourite food is corn, which 

 it amasses during harvest-time. It is frequently 

 found in com-ricks and barns, and often in com- 

 pany with the harvest mouse (M. minutus ?) as 

 well as with the long-tailed field mouse (M. syl- 

 vaticus). I know not how to reconcile the dif- 

 ference between the measures attributed to this 



V. IT. P. I. 6 



