THE MOUSE TRIBE. 



MS 



rather small ; and the colour of the fur is yellowish red above and white 

 beneath. 



The harvest-mouse, although local, is widely distributed in the British Islands, 

 and extends over the great part of Europe, ranging eastwards through Russia into 

 Siberia, and occurring as far south as the north of Italy. This species usually keeps 

 far away from human habitations, frequenting cornfields ami pastures ; but is often 

 carried home with com-sheaves, and then spends the winter in the rick where they 

 are deposited. In the latter situations, the harvest-mou.se remains active throughout 

 the year ; but when living in the open fields it constructs a burrow in which to pass 

 the winter months in a state of torpor. The summer nest is a globular structure of 

 grass and leaves suspended among the com-stalks at some distance from the ground ; 



-JP 



THE BARBAKV MOUSE (nat. Size). 



and when ascending or descending the stems to reach this nest, or in search of food, 

 the little creatures are much aided by their prehensile tails. No better description 

 of this nest exists than the one given by White, which although often quoted will 

 bear one more repetition. He writes that the structure was "most artificially 

 platted, and composed of the blades of wheat ; perfectly round and about the size 

 of a cricket ball, with the aperture so ingeniously closed, that there was no discover- 

 ing to what part it belonged. It was so compact and well filled that it would roll 

 across the table without being discomposed, though it contained eight little mice that 

 were naked and blind." The number in a litter varies from five to eight or nine, 

 and it is probable that there are several broods in the course of a summer. The 

 numbers of the species are, however, kept down by the hosts of predaceous birds 

 and small carnivorous mammals that make it their prey. Like the long-tailed field- 

 mouse, the present species is partly insectivorous in its diet. Mr. Harting states 

 that he has several times kept harvest-mice in captivity, and succeeded in rearing 

 vol. in. — 10 



