THE COMMON GRASS MOUSE 



447 



the succulent bases of grass-stalks.^ They are, however, 

 capable, when opportunity or necessity arises, of adopting at 

 least partially the omnivorous propensities of the Bank Mouse, 

 and are frequently unable to resist the temptation offered by 

 a dead body, even of one of their own kind. For the 

 satisfaction of their wants, therefore, many different kinds of 

 country are suitable, the main requirement being plenty of 

 grass, which may be of any coarse kind, for their teeth are 

 excellent slicing organs. They may be found in pastures, 

 especially in those damp or wet places where growth is most 



Fig. 69.— Plan of Runs of Grass Mice under a fallen notice-board, 23id January 

 1910. Diagrammatic, from sketches by L. E. Adams. Nj and Ng nursery, with young and 

 nest in each ; scale 8 feet. 



luxuriant ; on salt marshes ; amongst the marram-grass of sea- 

 beaches ;^ on moors and mountains and, especially in winter, in 

 open patches in woods, or on grassy hedgerows in almost every 

 conceivable situation. 



Where vegetation is thick they construct a labyrinthine 

 network of runs, apparently the common property of the 



' Hence they can rarely be induced to enter a trap containing the usual baits, but 

 are attracted by carrots (L. E. Adams) or bulbs of yellow crocus (W. R. Ogilvie- 

 Grant), neglecting those of any other colour. They are easily caught in unbaited 

 traps so placed in their runs that the animals attempt to pass through them. 



' G. T. Rope {Zoologist, 1873, 3610) found them very numerous on small grassy 

 islands ; and abundant and attaining " a very large size " on a long water-bound strip 

 of beach at Aldeburgh, Suffolk. 



