follows man wherever he goes and takes up his abode, and so its distribution has
been accomplished coincidently with the human race.
H abits.__It would be a work of supererogation to say more than a few
words as to the habits of this well-known animal. Its principal habitat is of
course houses, but at certain seasons it repairs to the fields, notably to the cornfields
in autumn, and later to the stacks? I have noticed this to be especially
the case in the outer islands of Scotland—in Shetland and Orkney in particular,
where the House Mouse seems to emigrate to the oats and bere at harvest time.
Though not of much interest to the general observer, many a wretched convict
or dweller in the slums has derived infinite enjoyment from the friendly visits of
these little creatures, and looked forward to their coming with as much pleasure
as the more fortunate dweller in the country does to seeing the larger mammals.
For their general habits I must in this case fall back on a stock quotation,
MacGillivray’s excellent description of the species:
‘ It is pleasant to sit quietly at midnight watching' one which has ventured
from its retreat and stolen to the hearth in' quest of crumbs. It glides along now
slowly, now by sudden starts, and on finding some fragment of food sits on its
haunches, lays hold of it in its forefeet, and; raising it up, nibbles it, or, if
apprehensive of danger, runs off with it to its hole. Although extremely timid
Mice sometimes exhibit considerable boldness, and venture quite close to a person
who does not molest them. Their agility ris astonishing, and to escape when pursued
they perform extraordinary feats. I have seen one leap from the top of a
staircase upon a table, a distance of twelve feet, apparently without receiving any
injury. I f seized in the hand they bite severely, but if caught by the tail and
thus suspended are unable to turn upon their persecutor. Although when in
small numbers they are scarcely injurious to a house, yet, owing to their fecundity
they soon become very destructive, devouring meal, flour, bread, cheese, butter,
tallow, in short; almost every article of food that comes in their way, and often
gnawing clothes, leather, and furniture. Their great enemy, the cat, is not always
able to extirpate them, so that the additional aid of traps and poison is required.
The ravages of this species are not confined to houses, for it often betakes itself
to the fields and nestles in the corn-stacks, which are found towards the base
traversed by its tortuous runs. The ground beneath is also filled with them, and
on removing a stack numbers almost incredible are often met with. Besides man
and his allies the cat, the dog, and the ferret, the Mouse has many powerful
enemies, all of which, however, are unable to extirpate it, for it litters many
HOUSE MICE.
From photographs by D. English, F.R.P.S.