490 



THE DORMOUSE. 



tree. It is a very active little creature, leaping from branch to branch, and traversing the 

 intricate mazes of the brushwood with such ready fleetness, that it can scarcely be taken by a 

 human hand. Generally, when a Dormouse is captured, it is secured while sleeping in its 

 nest, for during its slumbers it is so deeply buried in repose that it can be handled without 

 offering resistance or attempting escape. The food of the Dormouse consists of various fruits 

 and seeds, such as acorns, nuts, haws, and corn. 



As the animal is one of the hibernaters, it is in the habit of gathering together a supply 

 of dried food, to afford occasional nourishment during the long wintry months when it lies in 

 its bed, imprisoned in the bands of irresistible sleep. Like many other hibernating animals, 



the Dormouse becomes exceedingly fat 

 towards the end of autumn, and is therefore 

 enabled to withstand the severity of the 

 winter season better than if it retired into 

 its home in only its ' ordinary condition. 

 As soon as the weather becomes cold, the 

 Dormouse retires into its nest, and there 

 slumbers throughout the entire winter, 

 waking up for a short period whenever a 

 milder temperature breaks the severity of 

 the frost, and after taking a little nourish- 

 ment, sinking again into its former lethargy. 

 Several interesting experiments have been 

 made on this animal in connection with 

 the phenomenon which is termed hiber- 

 nation, and with the same results as have 

 already been mentioned when treating of 

 the hedgehog and the bat. 



This hoard of provisions is not gathered 

 into the nest, which is solely employed for 

 the purpose of warmth and concealment, 

 but is hidden away in sundry convenient 

 nooks and crannies, close to the spot where 

 the nest is placed. Comparatively little of 

 the store is eaten during the wdnter, unless, 

 indeed, the weather should happen to be 

 peculiarly mild, but it is of very great ser- 

 vice in the earlier part of the spring, when the Dormouse is awake and lively, and there are 

 as yet no fresh fruits on which it could feed. 



The Dormouse is rather gregarious in its habits, so that whenever one nest is discovered, 

 several others may generally be found at no very great distance. These nests are of consider- 

 able dimensions, being about six inches in diameter, and are composed of grass, leaves, and 

 similar substances. The entrance to the nest is from above. 



The young animals are generally three or four in number at a birth, and make their 

 appearance about the end of spring, or the beginning of summer. It is probable that there 

 may be a second brood towards the end of autumn, as Mr. Bell received from one locality in 

 the month of September one half-grown Dormouse, which had evidently been bom in the 

 spring, and three very little specimens, which were apparently not more than a week or two 

 old. They are born blind, but are able to see in a very few days, and in a remarkably short 

 space of time become independent of their parents. 



Like many other rodent animals, the Dormouse carries the food to its mouth with its 

 fore-paws, while it sits upright on its hinder legs. It is also able to suspend itself by the 

 hind-feet from any convenient branch, and may often be seen hanging in this manner, and 

 eating as comfortably as if it were seated on firm ground. 



COMMON DOS&OUSE.-Mwicardinw> aveHanarius. 



