THE FIELD MOUSE 



S07 



1900. Mus SYLVATICUS CELTicus, G. E. H. Barrett- Hamilton, Proc. Zool. Soc, 

 London, 401, pi. xxv., fig. 2 ; described from Caragh Lake, Co. Kerry, Ireland, 

 and based on an immature specimen of M. s. sylvaticus; (type a female 

 No. 0.3.1 I.I of Brit. Mus. collection, taken by Colonel J. W. Yerbury, 27th 

 November 1894) ; Johnston ; Millais ; Trouessart. 



1900. Mus SYLVATICUS TYPICUS, G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton, Proc. Zool. Soc, 

 London, 404. 



Skovmus of the Norwegians ; le mulot of the French ; die 

 Waldmaus of the Germans. 



Synonymy: — The first item refers to the species sylvaticus; the 

 remainder to the well-known sub-species common in Britain. As this 

 species is also widely distributed in Continental Europe, it has received 

 many names, but only those referring to British specimens are cited. 

 The full synonymy will be found in Miller's Catalogue. 



The British synonymy is simple. Unfortunately the common 

 British Field Mouse was at one time considered a recognisable form, 

 for which Bellamy's name intermedius became available, but Miller has 

 shown that that is not the case. Unfortunately also, A. s. celticus 

 cannot be retained as a distinct form. The synonymy and description 

 of valid local forms is given separately below. 



Terminology: — This mouse, the Mus domesticus medius of Ray 

 (1693), appears in the earlier subsequent natural histories (Pennant, 

 1766 and 1768; Berkenhout, 1769) as the "Long-tailed Field Mouse," 

 a term used in opposition to the " Short -tailed Field Mouse " {Microtus). 

 In his edition of 1776 Pennant shortened this name to "Field Mouse." 

 He was followed by Fleming and Jenyns ; but the longer term was 

 retained as an alternative by Bingley (1809), and exclusively by 

 Donovan (1815-1820). "Wood Mouse," which is evidently a translation 

 of the Latin specific name sylvaticus, appeared first in Turton (1807), 

 disappeared until 1837, when it was revived as an alternative, by Bell, 

 from whom it was adopted by practically all subsequent writers, though 

 sometimes with the longer name as an alternative, except Johnston 

 (1903), who reverted to " Long-tailed Field Mouse." The latter term 

 has become too long to apply to all the forms now recognised as 

 distinct from sylvaticus, but if the adjective " long-tailed " be dropped, 

 the oldest name for the animal in British zoology thus abbreviated 

 becomes also the most appropriate, "Field Mouse" having its older 

 significance of " Wild " or " Out-of-door Mouse " in contrast to " House 

 Mouse." The name " Wood Mouse," although short, is not nearly so 

 appropriate, the common sylvaticus being found in a wide range of 

 habitats. 



Local names (non-Celtic) : — Many of the names of other animals, 

 e.g. shrew and dormouse, are sometimes applied indiscriminately to 

 mice regardless of species. Thus when found in a bird's nest the 



