NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



THE HOUSE MOUSE 



(Mus tnusculus)^ 



The House Mouse is supposed to have originated 

 in Asia. It is now cosmopolitan, having been 

 imported by trading-ships to every part of the civil- 

 ised world. In South Africa it is common in the 

 towns and villages, and is even found on many of the 

 isolated back-veld farms. This Mouse makes its 

 home in the dwellings of man, where it lies hidden 

 during the daylight hours in some secret hiding- 

 place, and issues out at night in search of food. 

 When not molested it soon becomes tame, and 

 will eat up any crumbs which may fall to the floor 

 when the family are having their evening meal. 

 The House Mouse has a special liking for human 

 habitations and their neighbourhood. It is om- 

 nivorous, and levies toll upon the contents of the 

 pantry and barn. It has strong, gnawing teeth, and 

 tunnels its way through planks with ease. It is 

 exceedingly active in its habits, running with great 

 rapidity, springing considerable distances, and climb- 

 ing up nearly vertical surfaces. It can even climb 

 hand over hand up a vertical wire if it is sufficiently 

 thin to grasp. 

 The House Mouse, owing to its small size, is not 



' The genus Mus now contains only the House Mouse and 

 its nearest relations ; the great majority of the species formerly 

 included in Mus are now referred to the genus Rattus. 



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