HARVEST MOUSE. 63 



line along their sides divides the shades of their 

 back and belly. They never enter into houses ; 

 are carried into ricks and barns with the sheaves ; 

 abound in harvest; and build their nest amidst 

 the straws of corn above ground^ and sometimes 

 in thistles. They breed as many as eight at a 

 litter, in a little round nest composed of the 

 blades of grass or wheat. One of these nests I 

 procured this autumn (17^7), most artificially 

 platted, and composed of the blades of wheat ; 

 perfectly round, and about the size of a cricket 

 ball ; with the aperture so ingeniously closed, that 

 there was no discovering to what part it belonged. 

 It was so compact and well filled, that it would 

 roll across the table without being discomposed, 

 though it contained eight little mice that were 

 naked and blind. As this nest was perfectly full, 

 how could the dam come at her litter respectively, 

 so as to administer a teat to each ? Perhaps she 

 opens different places for that purpose, adjusting 

 them again when the business is over ; but she 

 could not possibly be contained herself in the 

 ball with her young, which moreover would be 

 daily increasing in bulk. This wonderful pro- 

 creant cradle, an elegant instance of the effects 

 of instinct, was found in a Avheat field, suspended 

 in the head of a thistle. " 



Mr. White adds, that though these animals 

 hang their nests for breeding up amidst the 

 straws of standing corn, above ground, yet in the 

 winter they burrow deep in the earth, and make 

 warm beds of grass ; but their grand rendezvous 



