786 Quadrupeds. 



The Dormouse abounds along the Undercliff, and I believe through- 

 out the island. 



The Harvest Mouse. Mr. Simeon has furnished me with a note of 

 his, to the effect that Mus messorius has been found in a wheat rick 

 in the neighbourhood of Ryde. I have frequently met with, in the 

 winter time, what 1 believe to be the old nests of this little animal, 

 but I have not succeeded in obtaining the animal itself. 



The long-tailed Field Mouse is plentiful, as is the common mouse. 



The Brown Rat storms our dwellings as winter approaches, and I 

 could wish we did not see him so frequently in the summer. I can- 

 not bring myself to like the rat. I believe I could pet almost any 

 other creature, quadruped or biped ; and certainly I could enumerate 

 some pets with which few, perhaps, of your readers would like to be 

 on terms of familiarity. I remember when at school, a boy who used 

 to carry about in his bosom a tame rat, but I never coveted it ; nei- 

 ther can I satisfy myself as to its utility, but this is probably owing 

 to either vulgar prejudice, or natural antipathy. I can pity the weak- 

 ness of those who dread the spider or the toad ; I cannot sympathize 

 in the general dislike of the serpent tribe ; for I would rather handle 

 a viper than a rat : nevertheless, I wish the poor rat could meet with 

 a friend : even the benevolent Waterton has not a good word for the 

 Hanoverian rat, though I could almost imagine that he, like myself, 

 may possibly be a little prejudiced : and yet, perhaps this friendless 

 creature has many more good qualities than we are disposed to give 

 him credit for. I feel inclined to compel my pen to an act of self- 

 denial, and write something in his favour ; for if I cannot be affection- 

 ate, perhaps not generous towards him, I ought, at least, to be just. 

 To begin : that he is a very cleanly animal is admitted by all who 

 are intimately acquainted with his habits; for, be it remembered, 

 that an approved recipe for getting quit of a colony that may have 

 taken up their quarters in your house is, to catch one, and souse him 

 in treacle or tar, then give him his liberty ; he will naturally make 

 the best of his way to join his companions, and they will as naturally 

 do their utmost to keep out of his way, lest their fur should come in 

 contact with the treacle or tar ; and the chase will, it is said, be con- 

 tinued till the whole party are driven by their love of cleanliness out 

 of their quarters 



His sagacity too is unquestioned and unquestionable ; who ever 

 detected a want of tact or foresight in a rat ? You will as readily 

 find a stupid rat, as a rat with a dirty coat ; I, at least, never heard of 

 either one or the other. I remember a solution of a difficult question, 



