426 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



Mr. Pennant mentions a species, found in Hamp- 

 shire, on-ly two inches and a half long from nose to 

 tail, of a fine rust colour above, and white beneath. 

 It appears in great numbers in harvest time among 

 the sheaves and ricks of corn. During winter, it 

 shelters itself under ground, where it makes a warm 

 bed of dry grass and leaves. Its young are brought 

 forth on 'a nest made between the straws of the 

 standing corn, and are generally about eight in 

 number each time. 



THE SHORT-TAILED FIELD MOUSE. 



DIFFERS from the last, in having a thicker head, 

 and shorter tail : its ears are very short, and almost 

 hid in the hair; its body is about three inches long, 

 and the tail one ; the upper part of the body is of a 

 reddish brown, and the belly a deep ash colour. 

 Like the last, it frequents the fields and woods, but 

 is seldom troublesome in gardens: it also lives on 

 the same kinds of food, which it hides in holes un- 

 der ground. It makes its nest in moist meadows, 

 and brings forth seven or eight young at a time. 



