THE MICE OF THE FIELD 



ends rather abruj^tly, though the long 

 hairs at the tip are somewhat deceptive. 



That of the Short-tailed Meadow Mouse 

 is of similar structure, but can easily be 

 distinguished by its shortness. It is often 

 canied in a stiff down-curve. 



Except in the case of the Dormouse, 

 there is a sharp demarcation between the 

 dark upper surface of these tails and the 

 light under surface. 



Taking the heads next, we find that the 

 common House Mouse type is best repre- 

 sented in the Long-tailed Field Mouse, 

 whose thinly-haired ears project boldly 

 from the surrounding fur. In size of eye 

 the Dormouse comes first, with the Long- 

 tailed Field Mouse a good second. The 

 eyes of the other three species are com- 

 paratively small, and, generally sj^eaking, 

 their heads and faces are superficially alike. 



Colour alone is hardly a reliable guide, 

 nor yet is size, unless one is certain that 

 the Mouse examined is full grown. The 

 colour of all Mice varies with their age, 

 with their sex, with their surroundings, 



with the climate, and with the season of 

 the year. 



The under surface of the Long-tailed 

 Field Mouse is often pure white, and that 

 of the Harvest Mouse invariably so. In 

 the case of the latter a tongue of white 

 fur which stretches from the upper lip 

 towards the eye is in itself sufficient to 

 determine the Mouse's identity. There 

 are traces of this marking in the other 

 species, but in none of them is it so 

 clearly defined. 



There is considerable variation in the 

 under surfaces of the two species of 

 Meadow Mice. The Short-tailed Meadow 

 Mouse is usually smoke-grey beneath, 

 while the Red-backed Meadow Mouse 

 inclines to cream colour. 



The Dormouse has a white patch on the 

 throat, but his stomach is a pale copy 

 of his back, the transition from light 

 reddish brown of the former (distinctly 

 the lightest of the five Mice under con- 

 sideration) being very gradually accom- 

 plished. 



Douglas English. 



THK DORMOUSE. 



Landed after leaping upwards. The grasping character of the fingers and toes is noticeable. The " thumbs'* 

 are rudimentary, but their office is performed by the large pads adjoining them. The "great toes" are 

 fairly well developed. 



