Class I. HARVEST MOUSE. 149 



Less long-tailed field mouse. cauda longa siibpilosa, auri- 29. Harvest. 



Br.ZQ0l.Il.Jpp.4gS.HisL colis vellere longioribus. 



quad. ii. iS^o. 384. p. 185. Shnivs Gen. Zool.n.^. Q2. '. 



Mus messorius. M. supra Linn. Tr.\n. 274:. 



ferrugineus, subtus albus. White s Selbonie, 33, 3Q. 



JL HIS species is very numerous in Hampshire* . - 



particularly during harvest. 



They form their nest above the ground, be- Manners. 

 tween the straws of the standing corn, and some- 

 times in thistles ; it is of a round shape, and 

 composed of the blades of corn. They bring_ 

 about eight young at a time. 



They never enter houses, but are often carried 



in the sheaves of corn into ricks, and a hundred 



of them have been found in a single rick, on 



pulling it down to be housed. Those that are 



not thus carried away in the sheaves, shelter 



themselves during winter under ground, and 



burrow deep, forming a warm bed for them- ' 



selves of dead grass. 



They are (except the Shrew) the smallest of Descrip- 

 tion. 

 the British quadrupeds ; their length from nose 



to tail is only two inches and a half; their tail 



two inches ; their weight one sixth of an ounce. 



* It is said by the observant Mr. Montagu, not to be uncom- 

 mon in Wiltsliire, Devon, and Giocestershire. Ed. 



