THE COMMON MOUSE 223 



too familiar to require description, but there are a number 

 of other animals whose relationship to them might not at 

 first glance be suspected. 



Most of the Mouse-like Rodents are terrestrial, but among 

 them we find climbers, jumpers, and swimmers, many of 

 which, to accord with their particular habit, have some 

 modification of structure. Some or other of the three 

 hundred and thirty species are found throughout the world. 

 The Common Mouse and the Common Rat in particular are 

 cosmopolitan, having accompanied the white man in his 

 restless wanderings into the uttermost corners of the earth. 

 Individually, any one of the Muridae family is practically in- 

 significant in size, and in natural disposition is one of the 

 most timid of living creatures. But many of the smaller 

 omnivorous species are so prolific, and multiply to such an 

 amazing extent, as to demand far more attention than very 

 many larger animals. 



It is manifestly impossible to describe a tithe of the 

 various species, but it will not be difficult to give a selection 

 of typical representatives that will well serve for the whole. 



HOUSE MOUSE (Mus musculus). 

 Plate XXIII. Fig. 2. 



This small creature possesses the characteristics of the 

 true Rodent, and a brief description of its structure will in 

 the main apply equally to the larger members of the family. 

 The fur is usually of a brownish ash colour above and 

 light beneath just the colour that ren- 

 ders the animal difficult to detect at 

 night-time. Its legs, with squirrel-like 

 paws, are short and noiseless for creep- 

 ing. The ears and eyes are large, in SKULL OF THE 

 agreement with the watchful creatures MOUSE. 



necessities. The forepaws are used as 

 hands, during which time the tail assists to steady the 

 body in sitting up. The long, flexible, scaly tail is very 

 sensitive to touch. Though so small, the incisor teeth 

 of the Mouse, with their rasp-like edges of enamel, can 



