THE RAT AND MOUSE. 



other animals that seem dependent on man for 

 support, or at least that find his means subservient 

 to their comforts, and domesticate themselves with 

 him. The meadow and the long-tailed mouse 

 occasionally become foragers in our gardens and 

 domains, when a natural supply of food becomes 

 difficult of attainment, yet they are not wholly 

 settlers with us ; but the common mouse (mus 

 domesticus) resorts entirely to our premises, and 

 seems to exist wholly on food of our providing. 

 In towns it accommodates its appetite to the va- 

 riety of sustenance it finds there; and will enjoy 

 the preserve in the pot, the cheese in the rack, 

 or the pie in the pantry. In the country it will 

 ransack the cupboard, live in the barn, or colonize 

 in our ricks. Still, in all these cases, the store and 

 provision of man are its delight, and its only re- 

 source ; and it will even quit a residence which is 

 abandoned by its provider. It is true, it maintains 

 the same love of liberty as its celebrated ancestor is 

 reported to have done ; but the simplicity of man- 

 ners and taste of the sage, the " hollow tree, the 

 oaten straw," have been abandoned; it has become 

 pleased with household comforts, and a luxurious 

 citizen in its appetite. 



The rat (mus rattus), too, perhaps, may be united 

 with these companions of mankind. Not knowing 

 it in an independent state, we cannot say what its 

 resources might be, but so sagacious and power- 

 fully-endowed an animal could always provide 

 for its own necessities ; yet it prefers our provision 



