234 BRITISH QUADRUPEDS. 



capture, a young cat was let into the room, and soon 

 discovering the lantern, which was placed on a table, 

 and also its captive, she dashed at it with the ferocity 

 of a tiger. But notwithstanding this furious attack, 

 the mouse continued its ablutions with the greatest 

 coolness. This experiment was repeated, and always 

 with the same result, when he was carried to the mine, 

 and restored to liberty. 



The sensibility of mice to music is not a little remark- 

 able. Of this some of our readers may occasionally 

 have had proofs. As a member of the family has been 

 performing on the piano-forte, mice may have been ob- 

 served coming forth from the wainscoting of the room, 

 and showing great attention to the sound. In some 

 instances the effect produced by music on these animals 

 is very great. Thus, "on a rainy evening in 1817," 

 says Dr. Archer of Norfolk, in the United States, " as I 

 was alone in my chamber, I took up my flute, and 

 commenced playing. In a few minutes, my attention 

 was directed to a mouse that I saw creeping from a hole, 

 and advancing to the chair in which I was sitting. I 

 ceased playing, and it ran precipitately back to its hole. 

 I began again shortly afterwards, and was much sur- 

 prised to see it reappear, and take its old position. The 

 appearance of the little animal was truly delightful ; it 



