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Harvest mice and Nest. 



Note on the Harvest-mouse. A short time since, whilst reading an account of the 

 harvest-mouse {Mus messorius), having met with a statement to the effect that this in- 

 teresting little animal was peculiar to Hampshire, the following observations on its 

 habits and localities may perhaps prove interesting to some of your readers. This, the 

 smallest of British quadrupeds, was, I believe, first noticed by that acute observer and 

 most charming describer of Nature, White of Selborne. From his notice of it, and 

 its abundance in Hampshire, may have arisen the statement that it is peculiar to that 

 county. Such, however, is not the fact, as I have observed it commonly in Kent and 

 also in Cambridgeshire ; and it is probably very generally to be found throughout Eng- 

 land.* I have at different periods kept harvest- mice in cages, in order to observe their 

 habits more closely. They are easily tamed, but never lose a certain degree of shy- 

 ness. I have never yet been able to get them to breed in captivity. A short time 

 since I had three in a cage ; they showed no disposition to fight, and would eat before 



* Professor Bell says it has also been found in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and 

 Devonshire. — British Quadrupeds^ p. 300. — Ed. 



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