The Plague of Field Mice, by Sir Walter Elliot. 465 



suddenly as they came, a result to which, in the opinion of the 

 farmers, the heavy rains that fell at Christmas greatly con- 

 tributed. When the ground was ploughed in the following 

 spring, many mice were found dead in their holes, but by 

 no means in proportion to their previous numbers. As was the 

 case here, birds and beasts of prey were found of great service ; 

 and regret was expressed that their wanton destruction was not 

 checked by law. It was remarked that the cats which ate the 

 diseased mice were affected by a similar disease, and that num- 

 bers of them died in consequence. 



The A. arvalis differs little from our A. agrestis (if indeed it 

 be distinct) save in being of a darker colour, although this 

 character is very variable. In one report, indeed the description 

 of those that devastated Transylvania coincides in every respect 

 with the character of A. agrestis* 



Nor are such visitations matters of recent occurrence only. Did 

 space allow, a curious and not uninteresting chapter of Yole 

 literature might be collected from notices of their doings in times 

 past among ourselves, supplemented by narratives of their 

 depredations in other lands, as at Vienna, Magdeburg, Wurtem- 

 burg, and other parts of Germany.f I will content myself with 

 quoting one or two instances by way of example. 



* Since the above was written, the Times of the 12th July, 1878, reports 

 that considerable excitement prevailed in Moldavia, by the sudden appearance 

 of a species of mole (?) about two inches long, at the village of Fundar, in 

 the district of Tekatch, on the Sereth, which "has already destroyed 120 

 acres of wheat so effectually that it was impossible to tell what species of 

 grain had been sown. ' ' A correspondent of the Society of Arts writes from 

 Smyrna, in March, 1878, that " they are visited this year with the plague of 

 field mice, which have come down from the mountains, and are eating up the 

 seed-corn and everything they can devour," and asks whether any remedy 

 can be recommended. This called forth several replies, and among others a 

 quotation from the Globe, suggesting that " The plagues of mice which have 

 become a terrible scourge in many parts of Germany and Austria are, in a 

 great measure, due to the practice of penning up the swine, instead of 

 allowing them the range of the fields as formerly. ***** It is no unusual 

 thing for a careful observer to detect pigs in the act of snapping up full- 

 grown mice, while they have a special fancy for the nests containing the 

 young, for which they have a keen scent, and which they grub up and devour 

 with avidity."— Journal Society of Arts, vol. xxvi., pp. 388 482. 



t Prod. Faun. Vert. Hung. Sup. in Trans. Zool. and Bot. Soc. of Vienna, 

 1862 : by L. H. Jeitteles, vol xii., p 245 : Mammals of Germany by J. H. 

 Blasius, Brunswick, 1857 : Illus. of Animal Life, by A. E. Brehm, vol. ii., p. 

 152. 1865. 



