OF SELBORNE. 
33 
LETTER Xn. 
TO THE SAME. 
SIR, November 4,' 1767. 
It gave me no fmall fatisfaftion to hear that the falco ^ turned out 
an uncommon one. I mufl: confefs I fnould have been better 
pleafed to have heard that I had lent you a bird that you had 
never feen before ; but that, I find, would be a difficult talk. 
I have procured fome of the mice mentioned in my former 
letters, a young one and a female with young, both of which I 
have prefer ved in brandy. From the colour, fhape, fize, and 
manner of nefting, I make no doubt but that the fpecies is non- 
defcript. They are much fmaller, and more flender, than the mus 
domejiicus medius of Ray ; and have more of the fquirrel or dor- 
moufe colour : their belly is white ; a ftraight line along their 
fides divides -the (hades of their back and belly. They never 
enter into houfes ; are carried into ricks and barns with the 
Iheaves ; abound in harveft ; and build their nefts amidft the 
ftravvs of the corn above the ground, and fometimes in thirties. 
They breed as many as eight at a litter, in a little round neft com- 
pofed of the blades of grafs or wheat. 
One of thefe nefts I procured this autumn, moft artificially 
platted, and compofed of the blades of wheat ; perfedly round, 
and about the fize of a cricket-ball; with the aperture fo inge- 
nioufly clofed, that there v/as no difcovering to what part it 
s This hawk proved to be the 5 a variety. 
F 
belonged. 
