Mukid^. MAMMALIA. Mukid.e. 135 
As this statement was originally penned some twenty 
3 ''ears ago, we indulge the hope that sounder principles 
of humanity have at length reached the western borders 
of our isle ; and if they have, we shall hail with plea- 
sure any information on this head. 
THE HAKVEST MOUSE {Mus messorius) has a red- 
dish-brown fm- above, being white underneath. The 
ears are comparatively short. The body is only two and 
a half inches long. The tail is prehensile. This species 
constructs its nest in the form of a ball, which is sus- 
pended amongst rushes, or placed amongst the leaves 
of some strong ^vild plant, such as the common thistle. 
It has been Imown to devour flies with avidity. Eight 
or nine young are produced at a single litter. 
THE LONG-TAILED FIELD MOUSE {Mus sylvaticus) 
resembles the foregoing in the colouring of the fur, but 
is distinguished by a brownish spot on the breast, while 
the ears are much longer, and the tail about the length 
of the body, including the head. This species proves 
terribly destructive in our corn-fields ; but its diet is 
not exclusively gi-anivorous, as it has been knovm to 
eat yoimg birds, and even its own species. It is rather 
more tlian three and a half inches in length, exclusive 
of the tail. 
THE BAEBAEY MOUSE {Mus Barhams) is an 
inhabitant of northern Africa. The fur has a dark- 
brown colour, the sides bemg prettily marked with five 
or six yellowish longitudinal bands, which run parallel, 
and extend from the neck to the rump. Two of the 
toes on the fore-foot are rudimentary. This species is 
also known as the Palmetto mouse. 
DARWIN’S MOUSE {Mus Darwinii) is a native of 
Coquimbo. It measures rather more than five inches 
in length, not including the tail. The colour of the fur 
is a mixtm’e of cinnamon and black, the under parts of 
the body and the feet being white. The ears are very 
large and nearly naked. The tail is brownish-black 
superiorly. 
THE BLACK EAT {Mus Raitus)—?\z.i& 15, fig. 48— 
is indigenous m Em-ope. In this country it is not 
so abundant as formerly, in consequence of the intro- 
duction of the brown species, which persecutes and 
desti’oys it. It is chiefly distinguished by the greyish- 
black fur, and by the tail, which is a little longer than 
the body. The ears are half as large as the head. Its 
habits are omnivorous. It increases rapidly, the female 
•producing from seven to nine young at a birth. 
THE BROWN RAT {Mus decumanus) is also termed 
the Norway Rat, from an old and erroneous notion that 
it was indigenous in that country. This is now the 
common species here, and its destructive habits are 
only equalled by its boldness and ferocity. It is even 
more prolific than the above, the female producing as 
many as twelve or fourteen young at a litter. 
THE BANDICOOT RAT {Mus giganteus) is a huge 
species inhabiting India, and measuring thirteen or 
fourteen inches in length, exclusive of the tail. It is a 
very mischievous beast, undermining houses and places 
where stores of grain are kept, and also commits great 
havoc in gardens, besides sometimes attacking poultry. 
The low cast Hindoos are very partial to its flesh. 
THE TIKUS-WIROK {Mus setifer) is a species of rat 
inhabiting Java. The fur is of a brownish-black colour. 
and is distinguished by “ numerous rigid hairs, which 
are scattered over the upper parts of the body, and 
project widely from the general covering.” According 
to Dr. Horsfield, it rarely approaches the dwellings of 
the natives, and is generally fmmd at the confines of 
woods and forests. 
THE AMERICAN FIELD MOUSE {Mus leucopus) 
may be considered as the representative of our long- 
tailed Mus sylvaticus. Sir John Richardson states that 
this mouse does considerable mischief in gardens, and 
will destroy an entire plantation of maize in a few 
nights. The ftu’ exhibits a bluish-brown colour, being 
white imderneath the belly. Specimens, taken from 
the Columbia river district, measmed four and a quarter 
inches. 
THE LABRADOR JUMPING MOUSE {MerionesLahra- 
dorius) is very abimdant throughout the fur countries. 
The fur has a liver-bro-wn colour above, becoming 
yellowish at the sides and underneath. The hind legs 
are very long, and stouter than those in front. The 
body is about fom’ and a half inches in length, exclusive 
of the tail, which measures five and a quarter inches. 
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAT {Neotoma Drum- 
mondii) has a yellowish-brown fm-, which is white 
beneath the belly ; but it is principally distinguished 
by a bushy, hairy tail, in wliich respect we perceive an 
approach to the squirrel. It lives in cre\dces of the 
higher rocks, its food consisting principally of herbage 
and tlie twigs of pine trees. The body measirres nine 
inches, exclusive of the tail, which is still longer. 
THE HYDROMYS {Hydromys leucogaster). — Two 
varieties have been described, but they are by some 
considered to be one and the same species. They have 
been termed, respectively, the white-bellied and the 
yeUow-bellied Hydromys. They are aquatic animals, 
about rivice as large as an ordinary rat. They have 
only four molar teeth. The hind feet are pentadacty- 
lous ; the posterior being semipalmate. The tail is 
remarkably tliick at the root, and only thinly haired. 
These animals are fomid at Van Diemen’s Land, and 
other islands off the coast of Australia. 
THE HAMSTER ( Cricetus frumentarius) is a well- 
loiOTO European animal, found in various parts of 
Russia, Germany, and especially in Thuringia, as well 
as in Siberia. It lives in subterranean holes, where it 
hoards up large stores of grain. It is torpid during tlie 
winter months. The fur is greyish-yellow above, and 
black inferiorly, and it is marked by three spots on each 
side ; tlrese marks being sometimes light-colomed, and 
at other times quite black. The Hamster possesses 
several pouches, and the tail is very short and hairy. 
The fore-feet are tetradactylous. 
THE PHLCEOMYS {Phlccomys Cummingii) is a com- 
paratively large animal from the Philippine islands. 
The fur has a blackish-brown colour generally, with a 
reddish tinge on the back. Its length is nearly twenty 
inches, excluding the tail, which is not so long as tlie 
body. The fore-feet are four-toed ; the claws being 
large, compressed, and cuiwed inwards. It was first 
described by Mr. Waterhouse, in the proceedings of 
the Zoological Society for the year 1839. 
There are many other murine genera and species, 
for whose consideration we have not sufficient space. 
