388 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



dental variety, cannot well be determined. " Its appear- 

 ance is, however, very beautiful : Its fine full eyes, of a 

 red colour, form an agreeable contrail with the fnowy 

 whitenefs of its fur. 



The Long-tailed FIELD-MOUSE 



is rather larger than the common Moufe, and very fimi- 

 lar to it in form : It is of a yellowilh-brown colour, its 

 belly white, and its eyes remarkably large and prominent. 

 — It is found only in the fields, woods, and gardens ; 

 feeds on nuts, corn, and acorns ; and lays up great ftores 

 for its fupport during winter. It burrows in the earth, 

 and generally forms its neft near the root of a tree or 

 thick bufn. If provifions fail during a ftorm, they de- 

 vour each other * ? are very prolific, and bring forth nine 

 or ten young at a time. 



Mr Pennant mentions a fpecies, found in Hampfhire, 

 only two inches and an half long from nofe to tail, of a 

 fine ruft colour above, and white beneath. It appears in 

 great numbers in harveft-time among the fheaves and 

 ricks of corn. During the winter, it {belters itfelf under 

 ground, where it makes a warm bed of dry grafs and 

 leaves. — Its young are brought forth on a neft made be- 

 tween the ftraws of the Handing corn, and are generally 

 about eight in number each time. 



