332 HISTORY OF 



powers of doing mischief.' Fearful by nature, but familiar from 

 necessity, it attends upon mankind, comes an unbidden guest to 

 Lis most delicate entertainments. Fear and necessity seem to 

 regulate all its motions ; it never leaves its hole but to seek pro- 

 vision, and seldom ventures above a few paces from home. 

 Different from the rat, it does not go from one house to another, 

 unless it be forced ; and as it is more easily satisfied, it does 

 much less mischief. 



Almost all animals are tamed more difficultly in proportion to 

 the cowardice of their natures. The truly bold and courageous 

 easily become familiar, but those that are always fearful are ever 

 suspicious. The mouse being the most feeble, and consequently 

 the most timid of all quadrupeds, except the Guinea-pig, is 

 never rendered thoroughly familiar' ; and, even though fed in a 

 fage, retains its natural apprehensions. In fact, it is to these 

 alone that it owes its security.^ No animal has more enemies, 

 and few so incapable of resistance. The owl, the cat, the snake, 

 the hawk, the weasel, the rat itself, destroy this species by mil- 

 lions, and it only subsists by its amazing fecundity. 



The mouse brings forth at all seasons, and several times in 

 a year. Its usual number is from six to ten. These in less 

 than a fortnight are strong enough to run about and shift for 

 themselves. They are chiefly found in farmers' yards and 

 among their corn, but are seldom in those ricks that are much 

 infested with rats, they generally choose the south-west side 

 of the rick from whence luost rain is expected ; and from thence 

 they often, on an evening, venture forth to drink the little drops 

 either of rain or dew that bang at the extremities of the 

 straw.^ Aristotle gives us an idea of their prodigious fe- 

 cundity, by assuring us, that having put a mouse with young into 

 a vessel of corn, in some time after he found a hundred and 

 twenty mice, all sprung from one original. The early growth 

 of this animal implies also the short duration of its life, which 

 seldom lasts above two or three years. This species is very 

 much diffused, being found in almost all parts of the ancient 

 continent, and having been exported to the new.^ They arc 



1 Buffoii, vol. XV. p. 1 15. 

 2 E volucribus hiruiidines sunt iiidociles, e tcrrestiibiis imircs. Tlin. 

 3 Buftbii, vol. XV. p. 117. 

 4 Limit's ilti bjUflry, vol. ii. p. "JDI, 



