Besides these more or less domestic species, there are in Britain two other representatives of the genus _Mus_, which do not generally frequent houses. One of these is the LONG-TAILED FIELD MOUSE (_Mus sylvaticus_), sometimes called the Wood Mouse, an exceedingly pretty little creature, rather larger than the Common Mouse, and having a proportionally longer tail. It measures about four inches in length, and the tail is about as long as the body; its colour is yellowish or yellowish-brown on the upper surface, whitish beneath; and the tail is brown above and white beneath. This species is found all over the temperate parts of Europe and Asia, living in the fields and gardens, where it takes up its abode, either in some small cavity under the root of a tree, in the deserted runs of the Mole, or less commonly in a little burrow excavated by its own labour. It feeds chiefly upon grain and seeds, of which it lays up a considerable store for winter use in its subterranean dwelling, and in this way does considerable damage to the crops. The Field Mouse does not, however, strictly confine itself to a vegetable diet, but under circumstances of privation will attack and devour smaller and weaker animals, not even sparing its own species. It breeds more than once in the year, and produces from seven to ten young in each litter. It is easily tamed, and soon becomes familiar. [Illustration: HARVEST MICE.] The remaining British species, the HARVEST MOUSE (_Mus minutus_), is the smallest of the British quadrupeds, with the exception of the Lesser Shrew (_Sorex pygmæus_). The Harvest Mouse is to be found in most parts of England. It also occurs in Scotland as far north as Aberdeenshire; and in Ireland, but very rarely. On the Continent its range extends over nearly the whole of Europe, from Russia in the north to Italy in the south. It is well known in Siberia, and occurs abundantly in the steppes near the Caucasus.