It is likely that the Hebrews extended the accepta- tion of the word akbar in the same manner as was the familiar custom of the (Jrceks, and still more of the Romans, who included within their term mus insec- tivora of the genus sorex, that is "shrews;" carnivora, among which was the Mustila erminea, "stoat" or "er- mine," their J/m-s'^wh/ick*,- and in the systematic order Rodentia, the muridte contain Mi/orus r/lLi, or fat dor- mouse; JJipus Jiiculus, or Egyptian jerboa: J/«.«, rats and mice properly so called, constituting several mod- ern genera; and aicxlus, or hamster, which includes
MOUSKES
709
MOUTH
the marmot or Roman 3fus Alpinus. In the above texts, tliose in 1 Sam. vi apparently refer to tlie short- tailed lield-mouse, which is still the most destructive animal to the harvests of Syria (see William of Tyre, Gesta Dei, p. 823), and is most likely the species noticed in antiquity and during the crusades; for, had they h&en jerboas in shape and resembled miniature kanga- roos, we would expect William of Tyre to have men- tioned the peculiar form of the destroyers, which was then unknown to Western Europe; whereas, they being of species or appearance common to the Latin nations, no particulars were required. But in Leviticus and Isaiah, where the mouse is declared an unclean animal, the species most accessible and likely to invite the ap- petite of nations who, like the Arabs, were apt to covet all kinds of animals, even when expressly forbidden, were no doubt the hamster and the dormouse; and both are still eaten in common with the jerboa by the Bedouins, who are but too often driven to extremity by actual want of food (Kitto). The common lield-vole, often called the sliort-tailed field-mouse, is the campa- gnol of the French, and the A rvicola agrestis of modern zoologists. It is about the size of the house-mouse, to ■which it bears a general resemblance, but is easily dis- tinguished by its larger head, its short ears and tail, its stouter form, and its reddish color, no less than by its habits (Fairbairn). '• Of all the smaller rodentia which
Field-mouse (Arvicola Agrefitis).
are injurious, both in the fields and in the woods, there is not"," says Prof. Bell {Hisf. Brit. Quad. p. 325), "one which produces such extensive destruction as this little animal, when its increase, as is sometimes the case, be- comes multitudinous." The ancient writers frequently speak of the great ravages committed by mice. He- rodotus (ii, 14:1) ascribes the loss of Sennacherib's army to mice, which in the night-time gnawed through the bow-strings and shield-straps (Smith). See generally Bochart, I/ieroz. ii, 448 sq.
Mouskes, Philippe (called also Philippe Mus and Philippe Miissche), a Belgian prelate and historian, was born about 1215 at Ghent, in East Flanders, and, after having taken holy orders, successively became canon (1242) and chancellor of the cathedral of Tournay, and in 1274 bishop of that city. He died at Tournay, Dec. 24, 1281 or 1283. Mouskes is the author of a rhymed chronicle, containing in 31,286 French verses the whole history of France, from the elopement of the fabulous Greek Helen with the Trojan prince Paris (the then usual beginning of such a narrative) up to the year A.D. 1242. There is only one MS. of this poem known, and it is at present preserved in the National Library at Paris, marked as No. 9G34, small folio, written on parch- ment in two columns. It was published at Brussels (1836-38, 2 vols. 4to) under the auspices of the baron De Keiffenberg, who enriched the work with an intro- j duction, a commentary, and appendices, all of which I show much research and scholarship.— Hoefer, Nouv. Biofj, Gemrale, s. v. |
Mouson, Ecclesiastical Council of {Concilium Mosomeme). Two such were held in the lOtli century. The first, held Jan. 13, 948, was composed of Ruotbert, archbishop of Treves, his suffragans, and some other bishops, who, when thus assembled, decreed that Ar- taud should keep possession of the see of Kheiins; and that Hugo, who refused to appear at the council, as he had previously refused at Verdun, should be deprived of it until he should appear before the general council (appointed to be held Aug. 1) and justify himself. See Cone. Verdua, 947.— Labbe, Cone, ix, 622.
Another was held June 2, 995. It was called by pope John XY, who was offended at the deposition of Arnulphus and the election of Gerbert (afterwards pope Sylvester II) to the see of Rheims, and therefore sent Leo, abbot of St. Bonifacius, into France as his legate, who assembled this council. No other jirelates, how- ever, attended but the archbishop of Treves, and the bishops of Verdun, Liege, and Minister, all of them from Germany. The legate took his seat in the midst of them, and archbishop Gerbert, being the party accused, was placed opposite to him. Gerbert defended himself with eloquence, and declared that he had been raised to the archbishopric without his own concurrence. The sentence of the council was that he should abstain from the exercise of his archiepiscopal and sacerdotal func- tions until the matter should have been brought before the Synod of Rheims, convoked for the following July. It, however, was not held so early, and while Hugh Ca- pet lived Gerbert remained archbishop, and Arnulphus a prisoner at Orleans. See Labbe, Cone, ix, 747.