THE SINGING MOUSE. 323 



the time to cease annoying vermia — so-called. — of any kind, the 

 result being that in a short time stoats, weasels, ravens, grey crows, 

 hawks, and owls abounded, and these, you may believe, did 

 yeoman service ia the campaign ; they were the cavalry that swept 

 off the scattered fugitives. By such active measures the enemy was 

 exterminated in a single season, and never again, so far as we 

 know, showed face on Loch-Linnhe-side. It was Colonel Maclean's 

 opinion that the mice were imported ; that the first pair, or more, 

 perhaps, were brought from the south in the straw and moss and 

 matting in which the roots of the more valuable and delicate 

 plants and trees were packed. From the above our Teviotdale 

 friends may perhaps gather some wrinkles that may be of use to 

 them in their efforts to relieve themselves from their field-mouse 

 invasion. 



And writing of the field-mouse reminds us that amongst our own 

 domestic mice there is at present what is generally, if somewhat 

 erroneously, called a " singing mouse." About a fortnight ago it 

 attracted the attention of a young lady, who heard it at midnight, 

 and thought at the time it was the twittering of some bird at her 

 bedroom window. It was afterwards heard by others, and finally 

 by ourselves, as we sat up late one night writing. That it was not 

 a bird we were certain, and guessing the truth — for years ago we 

 had become acquainted with the notes — we watched and waited 

 until the " jargoning " seemed to proceed from a closed press 

 immediately behind our chair, which we gently opened, and had a 

 glimpse of the performer, who vanished, of course, but soon again 

 began its voluntary, o'r involuntary rather, behind the wainscoting 

 in another corner of the room. It was, in short, a "singing 

 mouse J " an involuntary music, however, with which the poor mouse 

 would gladly dispense if it could. Birds, as we know, are some- 

 times incited to song by sheer rivalry and rage ; sometimes by 

 poignant sorrow for the loss of a mate, or the despoliation of a nest 



