T H E k A T K I N D. idi 



THE MOUSE. 



TIMID, cautious, and aflive, fearful by nature, familiar frorri ne- 

 ceffity, it attends en mankind an unbidden gueft: j it never leaves 

 its hole but to feek provifion, and feidom ventures above a few paces ; 

 does not leave a houfe unlefs forced. The moft feeble of quadrupeds, 

 except the guinea-pig ; never^ though tamed, familiar ; and, though 

 fed in a cage^, fufpicious. Surrounded by enemies, the owl, the caty 

 the fnake, the hawk, the weafel, and the rat, it only fubfids by its 

 amazing fecundity. 



The moufe brings forth feveral times in the year from fix to ten ; 

 thefe, in a fortnight Ihifc for themfelves ; are feidom found in ricks or 

 corn much infefted with rats ; generally choofe that fide of the rick 

 from whence moft rain is expelled ; and thence venture forth to drink 

 the little drops of rain or dew at the extremities of the draw ; feidom live 

 above two or three years ; found al moft throughout the ancient conti- 

 nent, and exported to the new ; afraid of human fociety, yet clofely at- 

 tending it; enemies to man, but only found where he has fixed his 

 habitation. 



The long-tailed Jield-moufe is larger than the former ; in colour, nearly 

 refembling the Norway rat ; chiefly found in fields and gardens. The, 

 Jhort'tailed field-moujey about fix inches long, has a tail not above an 

 inch and a half long, ending in a fmall tufc Its colour inclines to that 

 of the domeftic moufe. This, and the former, remarkable for laying 

 up provifion againft winter, fometimes above a bulhel. 



'Wi^ jhre'u: -moufe is about the fize of the domeftic moufe, but differs 

 greatly in the form of its nofe, which is very long and flcnder. The 

 teeth alfo are fingular in form, and twenty-eight in number; whereas 

 the number of the rat kind is but fixteen. The two upper fore-teeth are 

 very fliarp, and on each fide is a kind of wing or beard, like an arrowy 

 fcarcely vifible, but on clofe infpcftion. The other teeth placed clofe 

 together, are very fmall, and feemingly fcarcely feparatcd. As it lives- 

 chiefly in the fields, and feeds more on infedts than corn, it may be con- 

 fidered rather as a friend than an enemy. It has a ftrong difagreeable 

 Imell ; is faid to bring four or five young at a time. 



THE 



