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OKDER X. THE RODEXTIA. 325 



and 8cwcrs, in tlie \v;ills of houses and other hiiihlings, makes excavations 

 into fclhirs, tixHjiicnts wharves and piles ot' wood, and, in fact, no phice, 

 apparently, is secure from its invasion, and no oliject safe from its destruc- 

 tive propensities. "In the poultry -yard it sometimes destroys the young 

 chickens, and sucks the eggs ; and instances arc known of its mutilating 

 infants, and even of attacking grown persons, and when hard pushed it will 

 sometimes turn on a dog or cat, and defend itself with e;reat vigor. Its food 

 consists of ahnost every kind of animal and vegetable substance eaten by 

 other cpiadrupeds. In granaries it is extremely destructive, and in houses, 

 I ' where it efieets an entrance, it wastes and destroys all Jvinds of provisions 

 which are exjioscd to its ravages. To compensate the cU'ects of its destruc- 

 ti\e habits, the rat possesses no quality rendering it in any degree useful to 

 man. It is, therefore, everywhere proscribed, and various expedients are 

 used for its destruction. It is poisoned and trap[icd, and hunted by cats and 

 dogs, and yet in spite of every elfcn-t to extirpate it, it not only maintains its 

 footing, but appears to be yearly increasing ; for its sagacity is great, and 

 the cunning which it employs to elude its enemies often preserves it from 

 destruction. 



JMus JIuscuIks. — The ^lice. The mouse, so far as form is concerned, 

 may be considered a small rat, as its specific name indicates. There is con- 

 siderable variety in the colors, some being of a very dark brown, others 

 lighter, and others still with a sprinkling of white hairs. Albinoes of jjuro 

 white, with pink eyes, arc often met with, and arc kept frei^ucntly as pets. 

 ^\'ere it not for its ravages in the house, the granary, and field, the domes- 

 tic mouse would be a universal favorite; and, in s[)ite of these, we must 

 concede to it an exceeding beauty of form, and activity extremely pleasant to 

 observe, and manners of the nxjst interesting character. The rapidity of 

 its movements, darting hither and thither in quest of food, surpasses tlie 

 quickest flash of the eye. This lightning swit'tness, which makes it weari- 

 some for the eye to follow, is beautii'ully referred to by Tennyson, in that 

 pleasant little poem, entitled the "Skipping-rope,"- — ■ 



" Her feet, lioneatli her petticoat. 

 Like Utile Mice, ran in iiiid out." 



We have often seen a half dozen of these little creatures darting round 

 our table, where we were writing at midnight, ha\ing learned that we 

 intended them no harm. They were regidar in their nightly vis;ts, now 

 running between our feet, and now gliding over the floor, picking up here 

 and there little fragments, when they would sink back on their haunches, and 

 lifting the savory crumbs with the fore feet, sit and nililfle away witliout fear 

 of danger, sometimes pausing to cast up a momentary glance, perhaps ot 

 c;ratitude to their benefactor. 



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