16 FIELD-MOUSE. 



certain human children, it seems, if we are to take 

 as a criterion those whom we see hanging half out of 

 perambulators, fast asleep, and rolling from side to 

 side with every movement of the vehicle. 



Both my bats were very particular, not to say 

 finicking, about their personal appearance. They 

 bestowed much time and pains on the combing of 

 their fur, and specially seemed to value a straight 

 parting down the back. 



It was most interesting to watch the little thing 

 parting its hair. The claw was drawn in a line 

 straight from the top of the head to the very tail, and 

 the far parted at each side with a dexterity worthy 

 of an accomplished lady's-maid. The same habit 

 has been observed in other bats that have been 

 tamed. 



There are more than twenty British bats, but the 

 habits of all are very similar ; and so I prefer to take 

 the prettiest, and, having described it, to leave the 

 remaining species for a future occasion. 



Pass we now from the Flitter-mouse to the Mouse. 



In the fields, in the farm-yards, in the barns, and 

 in the ricks are to be found myriads of certain little 

 animals called Field-mice. Acting on the principle 

 that I have just laid down, I shall take the most 

 common and I think the prettiest species — the Com- 

 mon Short-tailed Field-mouse, represented on next 

 page. 



The fur of this creature is strongly tinged with red, 



