184 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



corn stalks, to which it is firmly attached, at some little distance 

 from the ground ; and so compact and firm in its structure, 

 that, as Gilbert White tells us, when detached, it may be rolled, 

 with its living freight, across a table without sustaining the 

 slightest damnge. So light is the Harvest-Mouse its weight 

 being only about one-fifth of an ounce that it can ascend a 

 wheat-stalk and feast on the corn in the ear ; its descent being 

 facilitated by its partially prehensile tail. In possessing an 

 imperfect power of prehension in that appendage, the creature 

 is unique among British Mammals. The nest generally has a 

 small aperture on one si Je, through which the female gains 

 access to her young; this aperture being carefully closed 

 during her absence. Since, in a short time after birth, the 

 young, when numerous, more or less completely fill the nest, 

 it would appear impossible for the female to pass the periods 

 of repose within it. 



II. THE WOOD-MOUSE. MUS SYLVATICUS. 



Mus sylvaticus, Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 84 (1766); 

 Bell, British Quadrupeds, 2nd ed. p. 293 (1874). 

 (Plate XXII.} 



Characters. Size small ; ears more than half the length of 

 the head ; tail nearly as long as the head and body ; colour of 

 upper-parts bright reddish-grey ; under-parts whitish, with a 

 patch of light brownish on the breast. Length of head and 

 body about 4^3 inches ; of tail nearly the same. 



Resembling the Common Mouse very closely, as regards 

 form, but slightly exceeding it in size, the Wood-Mouse may be 

 readily distinguished by its coloration and longer tail, as well as 

 by its very long hind-feet, which are white. It is very generally 

 known as the Long-tailed Field-Mouse, but since the term "Field- 

 Mouse," with or without a prefix, is applied indifferently to this 



