THE HARVEST MOUSE. 455 



The Black Rat derives its name from the color of its fur, which is of a grayish-black, 

 instead of the reddish-brown hue which tinges the coat of the brown Eat. The upper jaw pro- 

 jects considerably beyond the lower, and a number of long stiff hairs project through the 

 ordinary fur. In size it is rather less than the above-mentioned animal, and the ears and tail 

 are rather longer in proportion. 



It cannot be said with certainty when the Black Rat made its first appearance* in 

 Europe. Albertus Magnus is known as the first naturalist who called the Black Rat a 

 European animal. Accordingly the Black Rat must have already been found in Europe in 

 the twelfth century. 



In the beginning of the fifteenth century, the bishop of Autun proscribed it, because it 

 caused too much damage everywhere. In Sondershausen, in Germany, a day of fasting was 

 even ordained for the purpose of calling God's wrath upon it. Until the middle of the last 

 century, it was omnipotent in Europe. Since that time the Brown or Wandering Rat has 

 partially displaced it. 



The Black Rat is found in all warm and temperate regions, and was in former days 

 extremely numerous, although it has now been gradually driven away from its domains by 

 the larger and more powerful intruder. It is not, however, so rare as is sometimes imagined, 

 and may still be found by those who know where to look for it. According to Mr. Rod- 

 well's theory, the manner in which the brown Rat has supplanted its black relation is not 

 by war, but by love, the stronger males of the brown hue carrying off the black females 

 by force of superior strength, and thus by degrees merging the weaker black race into the 

 powerful brown Rats. 



In France the two varieties — for the distinction of species really seems to be but doubt- 

 ful — live together in perfect harmony, mixing freely with each other, and producing a curious 

 kind of parti-colored offspring. 



The skins of these brown-black Rats are considered to be of some value, and they are 

 accordingly pursued by the rat-catchers for the purpose of sale to the furriers. Even the 

 brown Rat is not without its value in commerce, as the prepared skin is said to furnish the 

 most delicate leather for the manufacture of the thumbs of the best kid gloves ; and the fur is 

 used as a substitute for beaver in the composition of hats. 



Albino, or White Rats, are of no very uncommon occurrence ; and when crossed with the 

 black or brown species, their offspring is curiously pied with a darker or lighter hue, accord- 

 ing to the color of the parent. 



Smallest of the mammalia, the elegant little Harvest Mouse next claims our attention. 

 The total length of this tiny creature is not quite five inches, its tail being nearly two inches 

 and a half in length. The color of its fur is a delicate reddish -brown, the base of each hair 

 taking the darker tint, and the point warming into red, while the under parts of the abdomen 

 are white. The line of demarcation between the brown and white is well defined. 



The description which is given of the Harvest Mouse and its wonderful nest, by the Rev. 

 Gilbert White, is so well known that it need only be casually mentioned. I have fortunately 

 had opportunities of verifying his observations by means of a nest which was found in a field 

 in Wiltshire by some mowers. 



It was built upon a scaffolding of four of the rank grass-stems that are generally found on 

 the sides of ditches, and was situated at some ten or eleven inches from the ground. In form 

 it was globular, rather larger than a cricket-ball, and was quite empty, having probably been 

 hardly completed when the remorseless scythe struck down the scaffolding and wasted all the 

 elaborate labor of the poor little architect. The material of which it was composed was thin 

 dry grass of nearly uniform substance, and its texture was remarkably loose, so that any object 

 contained in it could be seen through the interstices as easily as if it had been placed in a lady's 

 open-worked knitting basket. There was no vestige of aperture in any part of it, so that the 

 method by which it was constructed seems quite enigmatical. 



I am inclined to suppose that the little builder remained in its centre while engaged in its 

 construction, and after weaving it around her, pushed her way out through the loosely woven 



