CLASS MAMMALIA.
59
Family MURIDAE.
Genus Mus, Linn.
Mus minutus, Pallas. Harvest Mouse.
This very beautiful and active little creature occurs in all
parts of Essex. In the winter time, it is found in corn-stacks,
especially those placed in the fields, and most frequently, I
think, in oat-ricks. I never discovered more than a dozen
in one rick, although others have informed me that they have
been found more abundantly in such situations.
As a pet, the Harvest Mouse is very interesting, and rarely
quiet, day or night. They are very peaceable all through the
winter, and any number may be kept together ; but, in the
spring fighting goes on until all, or nearly all, the males are
destroyed and eaten, for they are dreadful cannibals. On the
whole, I can strongly recommend them as pets. They are
sweet, not at all mousy in odour, and very amusing in their
ways. The longest time I have had them in confinement is
over two years, but I never could make them so tame as my
pets of the next species (Mus sylvaticus). I have taken
every precaution possible, but have never been able to get
them to rear their young in confinement. All might
proceed well for a few days, and then their cannibal
tastes would be indulged in, and the entire brood of
young would be destroyed and eaten.
Indoors, Harvest Mice do not become torpid ; nor do
they when living in corn-ricks. I have never found any
young in corn-ricks, although they are said to breed there.
I consider their breeding-season is entirely confined to the
summer months. This habit perhaps helps to prevent them
becoming the pests to the farmer and gardener that some
of the other mice undoubtedly are. Their numbers also are
so small, they never can do much damage ; and, as their