1.This little animal likes to live near the dwellings of men，for there it finds most easily the food which it likes best to eat.Mice generally remain in their holes during the daytime.It is only the young and foolish mice that come out then.The old ones are too much afraid of being caught and eaten by the cat.But at night they are bolder，and they come out from the holes which they have gnawed①in the woodwork of the house，and run about seeking for something to eat and to drink.
2.The mouse is a very small animal，hardly three inches in length if we do not reckon②its tail.But the tail is very nearly as①Gnawed，eaten out.
②Reckon，take into account.
long as the body.The body of the mouse is covered with short，velvety grey fur，which is darker on the back than on the rest of the body.
3.The mouse has two bright little black eyes，so small that they look like beads.Its ears are large，and it can move themabout so that they catch every sound.The feet of the mouse have sharp little claws，one for each toe.There are four toes on each fore foot，and five on each hind foot.
4.We can almost always tell something about the habits of an animal，and the nature of its food，by looking at its teeth.The teeth of the mouse are like those of the rat，the rabbit，and the squirrel；they are made for gnawing，or cutting through hard substances such as wood.
HEAD OF MOUSE（老鼠的头部）
5.In the front or middle of its mouth，the mouse has two long cutting or gnawing teeth in each jaw.These teeth never wear short，for they keep on growing at the end which is buried in the gum as fast as they wear away at thecutting end.They are shaped like little chisels.
6.These cutting teeth always keep their sharp，chisel-like edge，for the front of each tooth is formed of a very hard stuff called enamel，while the rest of the tooth is made of softer material.So the back part of each toothTEETH OF MOUSE（老鼠的牙齿）wears away faster than the front part，and thus the teeth are always kept pointed and sharp.Our best steel chisels are made on the same plan：at the cutting edge they have a thin plate of hard steel，which is supported or backed up by a thicker plate of softer steel.
7.With these sharp gnawing teeth mice can soon cut their way through wooden boards.At the back of the mouth there are grinding teeth，which crush the animal’s food into small pieces.Mice feed on grain，and on all kinds of seeds.They often do muchdamage by eating the corn in the farmer‘s wheat-stacks①.
8.Do you see the long “whiskers”of the mouse，which stick out from each side of its mouth？These act as feelers，and let the mouse know if there is anything in its way，when it is running along the dark，narrow passages under the floors or behind the wooden lining②or wainscot of our rooms.
9.Did you ever keep tame mice in a cage？You can buy white mice for about fourpence each.If you get any，you must look after them well.Give them a little bread and milk or porridge to eat，with some acorns③and nuts.You must keep their cages very clean.Tame mice will soon learn to know you，and will come to you and run up your arm when you call them.
SUMMARY
Mice are very small animals with long tails.They live in or near our houses，and come out of their holes at night to seek for food.Their body is covered with a short，soft，grey fur.They have two black bead-like eyes，and large ears that hear every sound.The fore foot has four toes and the hind foot five，each with a little sharp claw.Their four long chisel-shaped front teeth are made for gnawing.Their long whiskers act as feelers.Mice feed on grain and seeds.Tame white mice may be bought and kept in cages.
①Wheat-stacks，sheaves of wheat stored up for use.
②Lining，inside covering.
③Acorns，the fruit of the oak.
【中文阅读】
1．这种小动物喜欢生活在人们的住所附近，因为可以在那里轻松地找到最爱的各类食物。白天，老鼠通常都呆在自己的洞穴中。只有年幼和愚笨的老鼠才会在那个时候跑出来。成年老鼠非常害怕被猫给抓到和吃掉。不过，当夜幕降临以后，它们的胆子就大了很多。它们会爬出自己在房间的木头中啃咬而成的洞穴，到处寻找可供吃喝的东西。
2．老鼠是一种体型很小的动物，不算尾巴，身长一般不超过三英寸。然而，它们的尾巴却和身体差不多长。老鼠全身都覆盖着柔软的灰色短毛，背上的毛色比身体其他部分要深一些①。
3．老鼠长有明亮的黑色小眼睛，这双眼睛实在太小了，看起来就像是两颗珠子。耳朵很大，而且可以到处转动，这样就能捕捉到各种动静。脚上长有尖锐的小爪子，每个脚趾上都有一个爪子。两只前脚长有四根脚趾，两只后脚则长有五根脚趾。
4．一般说来，只需观察动物的牙齿，我们基本上就能够判断它的生活习惯与进食特征。老鼠的牙齿与大鼠②、兔子及松鼠的牙齿一样；它们的作用就是啃咬，或者凿穿诸如木头这样的硬物。
5．在老鼠嘴巴的前端或中部，上下颚的位置上分别长有两根长长的切牙或门牙。这些牙齿从来就不会因为磨损而变短，因为当前面的牙齿有所磨损，埋藏在牙床中的另一端就会迅速生长出新的一部分。它们的形状就像凿子一样。
6．这些切牙的边沿总是如凿子一般锋利，因为每颗牙齿的前端都是由一种名叫釉质的物质构成，非常坚硬，而牙齿的其他各部分则较软。所以，相对前半部分来说，牙齿的后半部分磨损更快。于是，每颗牙齿就总是能够保持尖锐、锋利的状态。我们的钢制凿子同样采用了这种设计结构：刀口由坚硬的薄钢片制成，后面再附上一块更厚的软铁。
7．利用这些锋利的切牙，老鼠能够轻松地在木板上打洞。老鼠嘴巴的后部则长有磨牙，可以将食物磨成碎片。老鼠以谷物及各类种子为食。它们经常窜到农场的谷仓里偷吃谷物，造成巨大的破坏。
8．你有没有看到过老鼠嘴巴两侧那长长的“胡须”？它们就像是触角一样，当老鼠在地下或房间中的木头夹层或壁板内那些阴暗、狭窄的过道中穿梭时，就可以通过它们来探查周围的情况。
9．你有没有在笼子中饲养过家鼠呢？每只小白鼠大概需要四个便士。如果你已经开始饲养家鼠，一定要好好照顾它们。给它们一点面包和牛奶或者粥，再添加一些橡子和坚果。必须保证它们所居住的笼子非常干净。家鼠很快就会认识你，听到呼唤，它们立刻就会跑上来爬上你的胳膊。
译注
①家鼠也叫小家鼠，是少数跟人类生活在一起却依然能够繁盛的动物，身长一般在6-9厘米，也是中国挂名的“四害”之一。白化的老鼠就是白鼠，因为成本低，经常用来做医学实验，还被当做宠物。
②因为mouse和rat在汉语的日常用语里都说成“老鼠”，中国读者在看这种英文文本的时候经常困惑。mouse的代表种，学名叫“小家鼠”；rat的代表种，学名叫“褐家鼠”或者“大鼠”。褐家鼠长度大概在18-25厘米，尾巴比身体短，性情凶猛，还可能捕食小家鼠，在西方文化里是一种让人厌恶的动物。相对而言，西方人对mouse就比较喜爱，这才催生了“米老鼠”和“精灵鼠小弟”这样的卡通形象。
“THERE’S NOTHING LIKE LEATHER！”
