821 



MEADOW MOUSE. 



species by the Count de Buffon and Mr. Pennant; 

 the former fixing its length at three inches^ and 

 the latter at six. It probably varies much in 

 different climates, and accordingly the Count de 

 Buffon tells us, that he had seen some which mea- 

 sured four inches and three lines from nose to 

 tail. He also records a specimen, taken in the 

 park of Versailles, whidi was entirely of a black- 

 ish ash-colour/ and which had a tail of greater 

 length than usual. Perhaps this dark-coloured 

 variety may be the same with the AIus (agrestis ) 

 Cauda ahbreciata, corpore nigro-fusco, abdomine 

 cinerascente, described by Linn^us, in the 2d edi- 

 tion of his Fauna Suecica. 



Mr. Pennant has recorded a remarkable in- 

 stance of attachment in the Meadow Mouse to its 

 young. One which had been seduced into an 

 iron trap by placing its brood in it, was so intent 

 on fostering them as to appear quite insensible to 

 its own state of captivity. 



