TOWN AND COUNTRY MICE 



WE have to deplore the dwindling of many of our 

 animals, but the rodent tribe still faithfully fills all the 

 small corners in the economy of nature for which it 

 was designed. Theirs is the blessing of the meek. 

 The fierce marten and polecat are on the verge of 

 extinction ; the nocturnal and peaceful, though incon- 

 venient, badger tries with indifferent success to hold 

 his own ; the swift fox is only permitted to exist on 

 condition that he makes sport for the still swifter fox- 

 hound. But the rabbit yields up her life without 

 protest, as though secure in the knowledge that there 

 are five little rabbits to come after her, and rats, mice, 

 and voles furnish tons of carcases annually for cats, 

 owls, hawks, and vipers, and are still as common as 

 ever. Either one of them is ready to eat us up if a 

 single hostile wheel should fall out of order, and, in 

 spite of every persecution, each of them has its scouts 

 within our lines. 



There is the proverbially silent house-mouse, which 

 while we sit before the fire comes out and flits about 

 the white hearth like a movable blot, seeming to 

 amuse itself by appearing in all manner of unexpected 

 places. We would gladly spare it if it were guaranteed 

 342 



