ey, and left the dog in the arms of one of the
ladies. A short time elapsed, and the dog, which had been very quiet, in
spite of a restless, bright eye, began to show symptoms of uneasiness,
and as he ran about the room, exhibited some unusual movements, which
rather alarmed the fair purchasers. At last, to their great dismay, the
new dog ran squeaking up one of the window curtains, so that when the
gentleman of the house returned home a few minutes after, he found the
ladies in consternation, and right glad to have his assistance. He
vigorously seized the animal, took out his penknife, cut off its
covering, and displayed a large rat to their astonished eyes, and, of
course to its own destruction.

MICE.

The round, yet delicate form of the Mouse, and the better expression of
its countenance, make it an object much more worthy of admiration than
the rat, of which it is but a diminished representative. It has the same
destructive propensities, assembles also in vast numbers, and is equally
carnivorous; but with all these, it is a more tamable and lovable
animal. There is a white variety which is often nurtured as a pet. Mr.
Darwin says, that with other small Rodents, numbers live together in
nearly desert places, as long as there are a few blades of vegetation
left; and that they swarm on the borders of salt-lakes, where not a drop
of fresh water can be procured. Some of them lay up stores of food,
especially those which inhabit northern countries.

Field mice do an infinity of harm to young plantations, by nibbling off
the young shoots, and, in order to catch them, pits from eighteen to
twenty inches deep, are sunk in the soil, which are wider at the bottom
than the top, so that they cannot easily get out. One hundred thousand
were destroyed in this manner in the Forest of Dean, and about the same
number in the New Forest. They make very beautiful round nests, of
curiously plaited blades of wheat, split into narrow strips with their
teeth, and in them will often be found nine little mice. These nests are
suspended to some stalks, or thistles.

I can bear witness to the possibility of taming mice, for I kept six in
a box for several months, which were so well fed, that they did not
attempt to gnaw their dwelling. I had a sort of little cart constructed
for them, with bone buttons for wheels, and a packthread harness; and on
being taken out of the box, they remained perfectly quiet till the
harness was put upo