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THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. XL] JUNE, 1887. [No. ]26. 



ON THE HABITS OF THE LONG-TAILED FIELD MOUSE. 



By G. T. Rope. 



Plate IV. 



Of the large and widely-spread genus Mus, five species only 

 are known to inhabit the British Islands ; the two larger, 

 M. decumanus and M. rattus, being commonly known as Rats ; 

 the rest, M. musculus, M. sylvaticiis, and M. messorius, as Mice. 

 A third species of Rat, M. alexandrinus, is sometimes brought to 

 our shores by vessels from Egypt and various ports in Southern 

 Europe, but has not at present succeeded in permanently esta- 

 blishing itself. It appears doubtful, however, whether this last 

 is really specifically distinct from M. rattus. 



Of the latter group, or " mice," the Long-tailed Field Mouse, 

 Ahis sylvaticus, is the largest, and is very numerous as a species. 

 Though a singularly beautiful little creature, it has a bad reputa- 

 tion both with the farmer and the gardener. No sooner does 

 the sowing season come round and the first early peas are 

 put into the ground, than the Field Mice find them out, and, 

 taking up their abode close bj', carry on their depredations 

 during the hours of darkness. From observations made on this 

 species in captivity, I believe it to be more strictly nocturnal ini 

 its habits than either the common House Mouse or the Harvest 

 Mouse, M. messorius ; and the much larger and more prominent 

 eyes seem to indicate the same thing. 



The Long-tailed Field Mouse has some little resemblance to 

 the Common Mouse, the chief i^oints of difference being some- 



ZOOLOGIST. — JUNE, 1857. B 



