THE HOUSE-MOUSE THE HARVEST-MOUSE 199 



THE HOUSE-MOUSE 



(Mus musculus) 



THE typical Rats and Mice, relatives of our familiar pests, are a very large group, 

 numbering over a hundred species, but, in nature, confined to the Old World, 

 some being even found in Australia. Our House-Mouse is the most widely 

 distributed of all, thanks to our involuntary assistance, being found practically 

 everywhere, but usually about houses. It certainly did not inhabit the New 

 World before Europeans got there, and no one knows the precise locality it 

 originally inhabited in the Old ; but it was probably near the seats of ancient 

 civilisation, as it was so universally known in antiquity. The colour of the little 

 animal is so well known as to be taken as a descriptive term ; especially to be 

 noted is the fact that it is grey underneath, not white. There is no need to say 

 anything about its habits, for to most people it is more familiar than they could 

 wish. It may be noted, however, that one peculiarity is its great activity, and 

 another its characteristic and unpleasant smell, the chief drawback to the prettily- 

 coloured " fancy " Mice, its descendants, as pets. 



THE WOOD-MOUSE OR LONG-TAILED 



FIELD-MOUSE 



(Mus sylvaticus} 



THIS handsome Mouse ranges widely across the northern parts of the Old World, 

 and is widely spread and abundant with us, occurring even in the London parks ; 

 but it is essentially a country Mouse, and seldom enters buildings except some- 

 times in winter. It is decidedly larger than the House-Mouse, and more prettily 

 coloured, being brown above and white below and on the hind-feet. Although 

 destructive in gardens and fields, and an enemy to small birds, it is a charming 

 little creature, and makes a nice pet. 



THE HARVEST-MOUSE 



(Mus minutus) 



THE tiny Harvest-Mouse is much smaller than the Common Mouse, not being 

 more than three inches long ; it is handsomely coloured, being red-brown above 

 and white below. It does very little harm, and, as it is fond of insects, is prob- 

 ably of considerable use. The beautiful nest it makes for its young has long 

 attracted attention ; it is built on a tall weed or among stalks of corn, fashioned 



