Richard Lydekker

“ The distinctive characters of the typical mice (and rats) , i.e. those included in the genus Mus, are dealt with in the article Rodentia. With the exception of Madagascar, the genus Mus ranges over practically the whole of the Old World, having indigenous representatives even in Australasia; while the house-mouse, with man’s involuntary aid, has succeeded in establishing itself throughout the civilized world. The following is a brief notice of the species of true mice (that is to say, those generally included in the genus Mus) inhabiting the British Isles. ”

“ In Central Asia there exists a wild mouse (M. bactrianus) , and likewise a second species (M. wagneri) , allied to M. musculus; while there is third kind (M. gentilis) , also nearly related, in the deserts of North Africa. ”