56 



COMMON MOUSE. 



Mus Musculus. 3f. eaitda elmgata suhnuda, pahnis tetradacty" 

 lis, plantis pentadactylis, poUicemutico. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 8i. 



Brown Mouse, ash-coloured beneath, with tetradactylous fore- 

 feet, pentadactylous hind-feet, and long nearly naked tail, 



Souris. Buff. 7. p. 309. pi. 39. and Suppl. 3. 181. p/. 30. 



Common Mouse. Fennant Qvadr, i.p^ 184, 



The manners and appearance of this little ani- 

 mal are so universally known, that it seems al- 

 most unnecessary to particularise it by a formal 

 description. It is a general inhabitant of almost 

 every part of the old continent, but it is doubtful 

 whether it be originally a native of America, 

 though now sufficiently common in many parts of 

 the new world, as well as in many of its scattered 

 islands. 



The Mouse, though wild and extremely timid, 

 is not of a ferocious disposition, but may be easily 

 tamed, and soon after it has been taken, will be- 

 gin to feed without fear, in the immediate pre- 

 sence of its captors. The white variety is fre- 

 quently kept in a tame state, and receives an 

 additional beauty from the bright red colour of 

 its eyes ; a particularity which generally accom- 

 panies the white varieties, not only of this tribe, 

 but of many other quadrupeds. 



The Mouse is a prolific animal : the experi- 

 ment of Aristotle is well known, and often quoted. 

 He placed a pregnant mouse in a vessel of grain, 

 and after a shoi't space, found in it no less than 



