MI-RID.E. MAMMALIA. 



135 



As this statement was originally penned some twenty 

 years ago, we indulge the hope that sounder principles 

 of humanity have at length reached the western borders 

 of our isle ; and if they have, we shall hail with plea- 

 sure any information on this head. 



THE HARVEST MOUSE (Mu.s messorius) has a red- 

 dish-brown fur above, being white underneath. The 

 ears are comparatively short. The body is only two and 

 a half inches long. The tail is prehensile. This species 

 constructs its nest in the form of a ball, which is sus- 

 pended amongst rushes, or placed amongst the leaves 

 of some strong wild plant, such as the common thistle. 

 It has been known to devour flies with avidity. Eight 

 or nine young are produced at a single litter. 



THE LONG-TAILED FIELD MOUSE (Mas sylvaticus) 

 resembles the foregoing in the colouring of the fur, but 

 is distinguished by a brownish spot on the breast, wliile 

 the ears are much longer, and the tail about the length 

 of the body, including the head. This species proves 

 terribly destructive in our corn-fields ; but its diet is 

 not exclusively granivorous, as it has been known to 

 eat young birds, and even its own species. It is rather 

 more than three and a half inches in length, exclusive 

 of the tail. 



THE BARBARY MOUSE (Mus Barbarus] is an 

 inhabitant of northern Africa. The fur has a dark- 

 brown colour, the sides being prettily marked with five 

 or six yellowish longitudinal bands, which run parallel, 

 and extend from the neck to the rump. Two of the 

 toes on the fore-foot are rudimentary. This species is 

 also known as the Palmetto mouse. 



DARWIN'S MOUSE (Mus Darwinii) is a native of 

 Coquimbo. It measures rather more than five inches 

 in length, not including the tail. The colour of the fur 

 is a mixture of cinnamon and black, the under parts of 

 the body and the feet being white. The ears are very 

 large and nearly naked. The tail is brownish-black 

 superiorly. 



THE BLACK RAT (Mus Ratttis) Plate 15, fig. 48 

 is indigenous in Europe. In this country it is not 

 so abundant as formerly, in consequence of the intro- 

 duction of the brown species, which persecutes and 

 destroys it. It is chiefly distinguished by the greyish- 

 black fur, and by the tail, which is a little longer than 

 the body. The ears are half as large as the head. Its 

 habits are omnivorous. It increases rapidly, the female 

 producing from seven to nine young at a birth. 



THE BROWN RAT (Mm decumanus) is also termed 

 the Norway Rat, from an old and erroneous notion that 

 it was indigenous in that country. This is now the 

 common species here, and its destructive habits are 

 only equalled by its boldness and ferocity. It is even 

 more prolific than the above, the female producing as 

 many as twelve or fourteen young at a litter. 



THE BANDICOOT RAT (Mus giganteus) is a huge 

 species inhabiting India, and measuring thirteen or 

 fourteen inches in length, exclusive of the tail. It is a 

 very mischievous beast, undermining houses and places 

 where stores of grain are kept, and also commits great 

 havoc in gardens, besides sometimes attacking poultry. 

 The low cast Hindoos are very partial to its flesh. 



THE TIKUS-WLROK (Mus sctifer) is a species of rat 

 inhabiting Java. The fur is of a brownish-black colour, 



and is distinguished by " numerous rigid hairs, which 

 are scattered over the upper parts of the body, and 

 project widely from the general covering." According 

 to Dr. Horsfield, it rarely approaches the dwellings of 

 the natives, and is generally found at the confines of 

 woods and forests. 



THE AMERICAN FIELD MOUSE (Mus leucopus) 

 may be considered as the representative of our long- 

 tailed Mus sylvatlcus. Sir John Richardson states that 

 this mouse does considerable mischief in gardens, and 

 will destroy an entire plantation of maize in a few 

 nights. The fur exhibits a bluish-brown colour, being 

 white underneath the belly. Specimens, taken from 

 the Columbia river district, measured four and a quarter 

 inches. 



THE LABRADOR JUMPING MOUSE (Meriones Labra- 

 dorius) is very abundant throughout the fur countries. 

 The fur has a liver-brown colour above, becoming 

 yellowish at the sides and underneath. The hind legs 

 are very long, and stouter than those in front. The 

 body is about four and a half inches in length, exclusive 

 of the tail, which measures five and a quarter inches. 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAT (Neotoma Drum- 

 mondii) has a yellowish-brown fur, which is white 

 beneath the belly ; but it is principally distinguished 

 by a bushy, hairy tail, in winch respect we perceive an 

 approach to the squirrel. It lives in crevices of the 

 higher rocks, its food consisting principally of herbage 

 and the twigs of pine trees. The body measures nine 

 inches, exclusive of the tail, which is still longer. 



THE HYDROMYS (Hydromys leucogagter^.TvfO 

 varieties have been described, but they are by some 

 considered to be one and the same species. They have 

 been termed, respectively, the white-bellied and the 

 yellow-bellied Hydromys. They are aquatic animals, 

 about twice as large as an ordinary rat. They have 

 only four molar teeth. The hind feet are pentadacty- 

 lous ; the posterior being semipalmate. The tail is 

 remarkably thick at the root, and only thinly haired. 

 These animals are found at Van Diemen's Land, and 

 other islands off the coast of Australia. 



THE HAMSTER ( Cricetus frumentarius) is a well- 

 known European animal, found in various parts of 

 Russia, Germany, and especially in Thuringia, as well 

 as in Siberia. It lives in subterranean holes, where it 

 hoards up large stores of grain. It is torpid during the 

 whiter months. The fur is greyish-yellow above, and 

 black inferiorly, and it is marked by three spots on each 

 side ; these marks being sometimes light-coloured, and 

 at other times quite black. The Hamster possesses 

 several pouches, and the tail is very short and hairy. 

 The fore-feet are tetradactylous. 



THE PHLOZOMYS (Phlceomys Cummingii) is a com- 

 paratively large animal from the Philippine islands. 

 The fur has a blackish-brown colour generally, with a 

 reddish tinge on the back. Its length is nearly twenty 

 inches, excluding the tail, which is not so long as the 

 body. The fore-feet are four-toed ; the claws being 

 large, compressed, and curved inwards. It was first 

 described by Mr. Waterhouse, in the proceedings 01 

 the Zoological Society for the year 1839. 



There are many other murine genera and species, 

 for whose consideration we have not sufficient space. 



