CHAPTER VI 



THE LONG-TAILED FIELD MOUSE 



The long-tailed field mouse is a very neat, 

 dainty creature, quite a different little animal 

 from the musty-smelling grey house mouse. 

 It has great black eyes looking ready to jump 

 out of its head, large sensitive ears, long 

 quivering whiskers, a sleek slim body, a very 

 long tail, and dainty paws like miniature hands 

 with which it is constantly washing its face, 

 fawn back, and white waistcoat. I have 

 called its fur *fawn,' but it is really a very 

 pretty shade of light yellowish brown, some- 

 what darker on the back, where some of its 

 hairs are tipped with black. Though its tmder- 

 parts appear white, it is only the tips of the 

 hairs which are colourless, the bases being grey. 

 One can see this well when the mouse is cleaning 

 itself and parts the fur with its paws. It is 

 a treat to see a long-tailed field mouse washing 

 itself, for it does the work so thoroughly. 

 It sits up on its hind legs, licks its fore paws, and 

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