THK SHORT-TAILED MELD MOUSE. 599 



they can scarcely be distinguished even when the blades are 

 only a few inches in lengtL I have known them to traverse 

 the ground while a game at cricket was proceeding, and to cross 

 the closely-mown space between the wickets, as if serenely 

 conscious of their invisibility. 



They seem to glide rather than to walk, and thread their way 

 silently and without noise. Even when the grass is short, a 

 little patch of reddish earth attracts no attention, and the red- 

 brown fur of the mouse is so similar to such earth, that few 

 would notice it. But if a more attentive observer finds that in 

 a few seconds the ruddy patch has changed its place, his sus- 

 picions are at once aroused, and he examines the moving tint 

 more curiously. He must, however, keep his eye upon it as he 

 moves towards it, for if he once loses sight of it, he will in all 

 probability miss it altogether, and think that his eye must have 

 deceived him. 



Towards the evening, however, the Gampagnol is less fearful, 

 and not only traverses the fields, but ascends the shrubs and 

 plants in search of food. It climbs nearly as well as a 

 squirrel, its sharp nails hooking themselves into every irregu- 

 larity of the bark, and its long, finger-like toes clasping round 

 the grass stems and little twigs like the paws of a monkey. An 

 autumnal evening is the best time for watching the Campagnol, 

 and if the observer will only remain perfectly quiet, and keep a 

 good opera-glass in readiness, he will be greatly interested by 

 the little animal. A hedge in which are plenty of dog-roses is a 

 likely place for the Campagnol, as the animal is very fond of 

 the ripe hips, and ascends the shrub in search of its daily food. 

 When it reaches the branch, bending with the scarlet load, the 

 mouse runs swiftly and sure-footed as a rope-dancer, and carries 

 off a store of the fruit, partly for present consumption and partly 

 for a stock of winter food. 



for the little creature is not one of the hibernating animals, 

 or, at all events, the semi-sleep is of so light a character that 

 the mouse comes often abroad, even in the depth of winter. It 

 is undeterred by severe frost, and takes little heed of snow, as is 

 proved by its tiny footmarks being tracked in the white and 

 yielding substance. 



This little mouse makes two kinds of nest, one for the 

 winter, and another for the summer. The winter nest is below 



