(Pope, The Wife of Bath.)

Fig. 49.—Diagram of burrow of field-mouse.

The field-mouse is prolific, the female producing several litters throughout the greater part of the year. The mother carries the young-born litter about for two or three weeks, nipping the skin of her offspring at the side, half-way between the fore and hind legs. The average number of young born at one time is probably somewhere about five, though litters of nine are by no means unknown. All predaceous animals naturally eat field-mice, and they are the favourite food—at any rate, in some localities—of owls.

INDEX

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FOOTNOTES:

[1] The Transformation of Insects, by P. M. Duncan. London: Cassell, Petter, Galpin and Co., 1882.

[2] From the Portuguese ‘cuspidor.’ Cf. the Latin ‘conspuere.’