THE BANK MOUSE 



413 



Although it is often content to dispense with the "runs" 

 which are so characteristic of the more sedentary Grass Mouse, 

 a colony in permanent occupation of a bank or hedgerow 

 usually constructs a complicated series of shallow galleries, par- 

 tially below the ground. These have been carefully excavated by 

 Mr L. E. Adams, who has supplied me with several plans of them 

 (Fig. 64). They are of irregular construction and diameter, 



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Fig. 64.— Diagrams of (i) Borrows of Bank Mouse; (2) A General Murine 

 Highway in a Hedgekow, probably constructed in the first instance by Bank Mice. 

 The black spots indicate the entrances to the burrow. (From plans and sketches supplied 

 by L. E. Adams.) 



with numerous openings, blind terminals, and enlarged chambers, 

 which may extend for a considerable distance along a bank. 

 There is generally a more or less central highway, which is 

 used by all wandering mice or shrews in common. That 

 intercommunication is the sole or main object of the runs 

 examined by Mr Adams seems to be proved by the entire 

 absence from them of nests, traces of food, or other signs of 

 occupation. It may be that in a southern county like Surrey 

 VOL. II. 2 D 2 



