THE HARVEST-MOUSE. 213 



Although there are still in my list many names of burrowing 

 insects which have not yet been described, it is necessary that we 

 should take our leave of the burrowers and proceed to the next 

 chapter. 



CHAPTER X. 



PENSILE MAMMALIA. 



The Harvest-mouse — its Appearance. — Reason for its Name. — Mouse Nests. — 

 Home of the Harvest-mouse. — A curious Problem. — Food of the Harvest-mouse, 

 and its Agility. — The Squirrel. — Its summer and winter " Cage." — Boldness 

 of the Squirrel. — Materials for the Nest, and their Arrangement. 



There are not many mammalia which make pensile nests, 

 and we are, therefore, the more pleased to find that one of the 

 most interesting inhabits this country. This is the well-known 

 Harvest-mouse {Micromys minutus), the smallest example of the 

 mammalia in England, and nearly in the world. 



This elegant little creature is so tiny that, when full-grown, it 

 weighs scarcely more than the sixth of an ounce, whereas the or- 

 dinary mouse weighs almost an entire ounce. Its color is a very 

 warm brown above, almost amounting to chestnut, and below it 

 is pure white, the line of demarcation being strongly defined. 

 The color is slightly variable in different lights, because each hair 

 is red at the tip and brown at the base, and every movement of 

 the animal naturally causes the two tints to be alternately visible 

 and concealed. 



It is called the Harvest-mouse because it is usually found at 

 harvest-time, and in some parts of the country it is captured by 

 hundreds, in barns and ricks. To the ricks it would never gain 

 admission, provided they are built on proper staddles, were it not 

 that it gets into the sheaves as they stand in the field, and is car- 

 ried within them by the laborers. Other mice, however, are some- 

 times called by this name, although they have no fair title to it ; 

 but the genuine Harvest-mouse can always be distinguished by 

 its very small size, and the bright ruddy hue of the back and the 

 white of the abdomen. Moreover, the ears of the Harvest-mouse 

 are shorter in proportion than those of the ordinary mouse, the 

 head is larger and more slender, and the eyes are not so project- 

 ing, so that a very brief inspection will suffice to tell the observer 

 whether he is looking at an adult Harvest-mouse or a young spec- 

 imen of any other species. 



