Emblems of rarities: or Choyce observations out of worthy histories of many remarkable passages, and renowned actions of divers princes and severall nations With exquisite variety, and speciall collections of the natures of most sorts of creatures: delightfull and profitable to the minde. Collected by D.L.

Of the Mice of the Alpes.

THere is a kinde of Mice a∣bout the Alpes almost as most as bigge as Conyes, and not much unlike unto Conyes, saving that their eares are shor∣ter, and their tailes be long, al∣most 8 inches in length, their ••ore-teeth bee long and sharpe, ••nd if they be provoked they ••ite cruelly, their thighes bee ••hort, and very hairy under the ••elly; they have feet somwhat ••••ke unto bears, with long claws, wherewith they dig and under∣••ine, and make very deepe ca∣••erns and holes: they will eate ••f bread, flesh, fish, apples, or ••ard egges, and when any such

thing is offered unto them, they take it with their former clawes, and sitting on their buttocks af∣ter the manner of Apes they feede and eate. They bee de∣lighted much with white meats, as Milke, Cheese, and butter, and if they get any bread dipped in milke, they eate it up every bit, and making a noyse with their chaps like unto Swine, when they feede upon sosse. When they play together they barke and jarre like unto whelpes. They be much give•• to sleepe, and when they are wa∣king,, they be alwayes given ei∣ther to play, or to doe som••••thing, as to gnaw with the•••• teeth, or to scrape with the•••• clawes; or else they carry 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their mouths something fro•• place to place, especially su•••• soft and tender things, as may

good for their nests, as Hay, Straw, Linnen, and such like, and they fill their jawes so full ther∣with, that they be not able to re∣ceive any more. If the cloth which they carry be of greater proportion then their mouthes can hold, then they drag it be∣hind them on the ground. Some of them have gray haires, and some have red. When they live thus wilde upon great hills and mountaines, and are minded to goe seeke their prey and food, one of them standeth in an high place, to warne them that be a∣broad seeking their preyes, if a∣ny feare or enemy bee at hand, and if hee perceiveth any body comming, then he barketh, at whose noise, all the other catch as much hay as they can, and come running away, and this is strange which they use.

Somtimes one and sometimes another lyeth downe upon his backe, and as much Hay as may be laid upon his Brest and Belly, hee claspeth and keepeth fast with his feete, and then ano∣ther of his fellowes getteth him by the tayle, and draweth him with his prey into his nest, and this provision they make for their nests to sleep the better in Winter. When they see a man or beast passe by the mountains, they barke and jarre, and straight wayes all the other take that for a warning to runne to their nests. About Autumn•• they hide themselves in their nests; the which they make so close, that no Ayre nor Water may scarre them: they lye hid∣den, and sleepe all the whole winter, yea, sixe or seven month•• without any meate, rowlin••

themselves round like unto a Hedge-hog; the inhabitants ob∣serve and marke the place of their nests, and dig the earth, untill they come unto them, where they finde them so op∣pressed with deepe sleepe that they carry them and their nests to their houses, and there doe they not wake from sleepe, if it be Winter, except they bee heate by some great fire, or warme beames of the Sunne. There bee commonly found in one nest, 7, 9, or 13. Where any of them be kept tame at home, and be restrained from scraping & under-mining the earth, there ••hey heap up and carry to their nests every rag, or piece of gar∣ment which they get, and there∣••n they wrap themselves up and ••leepe all the Winter. Their ••lesh is much desired of woemen

great with Childe, and of those that have paine and griping in the guts, and of such as desire to be provoked to sleepe. And many that have beene troubled with the collicke, annointing their bellies with the fat and grease of this Mouse, have found great ease.