4/0 SLEEP OF THE DORMOUSE CHAP. 



(5) Geomyidae, Pouched Eats. 



(6) Heteromyidae, Kangaroo Eats. 



(7) Dipodidae, Jerboas. 



(8) Pedetidae. 



The G-liridae have no caecum, so usual in the Eodentia. It 

 is true that all the genera have not been dissected, but it is 

 known that in the true Dormice, as well as in the genus 

 Platacanthomys, a caecum is absent. 



Apart from these few exceptions the Mouse-like Eodents all 

 possess a caecum, though it is often not very large. They are 

 all smallish animals, and are modified to a great variety of habit 

 and habitat. There are burrowing, swimming, and climbing 

 forms. The group is universal in range, even including the 

 Australian region, in which they are the only Eodents. 



Fam. 1. Gliridae. This family, also called Myoxidae, 1 includes 

 the Dormice, and is entirely an Old- World family, absent only 

 from the Malagasy region. Its most important differential 

 character is the total absence of the caecum and of any sharp 

 boundary between the small and large intestine. The molars are 

 usually four. The eyes and ears are well developed. 



The genus Muscardinus includes only the Common Dormouse, 

 M. avellanarius. This small creature, 3 inches long with a tail 

 of 2^ inches, is, of course, a well-known inhabitant of this 

 country. It is also found all over Europe. It is not particularly 

 abundant in this country, and a good specimen is said to be 

 worth half a guinea. As the specific name denotes, it lives 

 largely on hazel nuts ; but it will also suck eggs and devour 

 insects. The animal makes a " nest " in the form of a hollow 

 ball. Its hibernation is well known, and has also given rise to 

 the German name (" Schlafer ") of the group. It was well known 

 to Aristotle, who gave or adopted the name 'EXeto? for the 

 animal. Its winter sleep suggestive of death and its revivifica- 

 tion in the spring gave the Bishop of Salamis, Epiphanius, an 

 argument for the resurrection of man. The fur was reckoned 

 in Pliny's time a remedy for paralysis and also for disease of 

 the ears. 



The genus Myoxus includes also but a single species, M. glis, 

 the so-called "Fat Dormouse" of the Continent. It has no 



1 Reuvens, "Die Myoxidae oder Schlafer," Leyden, 1890, allows but one genus, 

 Myoxus, the other genera adopted here being termed subgenera. 



