156 MORE MINOR HORRORS 



all seasons of the year. Although, like other 

 MuBiDAE, it is probably vegetarian by an- 

 cestry, it is, in effect, quite omnivorous. It 



Fio. 48. — The field-mouse {Apodemus sylvaticus): 

 (Prom Barrett Hamilton.) 



causes considerable loss in cornfields and 

 gardens, especially to early-sown peas ; it 

 eagerly eats dandelions and any kind of grain or 

 nut, or berry, or fruit, or bulb, or bud. Even 

 fungi have been found in their winter stores ; 

 and one family was discovered which had eaten 

 considerable quantities of putty with appar- 



