158 MORE MINOR HORRORS 



The field-mouse, however, does not neglect 

 open and barren districts, and is found from 

 the sea-beach to the mountain- tops. It seems 

 to flourish equally well in the flower-beds of 

 the London parks and on the lonely hills of 

 Scotland. Its activities are largely confined 

 to the night-time, which may account for the 

 exceptional size of its eyes. It is described 

 ' as bounding along in a peculiar zig-zag and 

 erratic manner, remotely resembling the move- 

 ments of a kangaroo or jerboa.' Its spoor is 

 very characteristic. The hind feet pressing 

 nearly on the same spot as the fore feet, but 

 less lightly than the latter. From time to 

 time it sits upright, pricking its ears ; and 

 obviously its sense of hearing is very acute, 

 for it distinguishes sounds inaudible to the 

 human ear. It is mild in manner, gentle and 

 inoffensive, extremely timid, and most easily 

 trapped. It is to some extent gregarious, 

 as many as fourteen or fifteen sometimes 

 being found in the same burrow. 



As Fig. 49 shows, the burrow generally 

 has an entrance which is marked by a little 

 heap of excavated earth. This leads down 

 into the nest where food is often stored. 



saepe exiguus mus 

 Sub terris posuitque domos atque horrea fecit. 



(ViRGrL, Georgics, i. 18 b.) 



At the other end of the nest there are gene- 



