THE MOUSE. 233 



side, and nearly to the top of the pot. He delayed re- 

 moving it, till he had considered what could be its 

 cause, the closet having been locked up. On setting a 

 trap, he caught a mouse, which proved to be the cul- 

 prit. On examining the honey, it appeared to have 

 been raised to the top of the vessel by means of throw- 

 ing in rubbish of the same material as the mound, and 

 with which the pot was nearly filled. 



The following circumstances lead to the conclusion, 

 that one mouse, at least, had no instinctive dread of a 

 cat. This creature, caught in the gallery of a coal- 

 mine, into which no cat had been admitted, was taken 

 home by the finder, who wished to observe its move- 

 ments. That it might regain its self-possession, after 

 being brought into the light of day, which, in all pro- 

 bability, it had never seen before, it was kept for a 

 few days confined in a glass lantern, where it soon be- 

 came so tame, that it would eat in the presence of its 

 host. That it might look more fully about, a piece of 

 stick, about nine inches long, was fixed into the socket 

 of the lantern, on which the mouse very soon mount- 

 ed; and after finishing its meals, it found amusement 

 on its perch, by licking all the accessible parts of its 

 body. 



While thus engaged, on the fifth or sixth day of its 



