126 Mr. Bell on a new Species of Phalangista. 



food in their fore paws, which, with the face, are the only 

 parts apparently standing out from the ball of fur, of which the 

 body seems at that time to be composed. They are perfectly 

 harmless and tame, permitting any one to hold and caress them 

 without ever attempting to bite, but do not evince the least at- 

 tachment either to persons about them or even to each other. 



The analogy of these animals to the Rodentia, and especially to 

 the genus Myoxus, is so obvious as to require merely a casual 

 notice of their habits, to strike any one who observes them. It 

 is shown in their nocturnal activity, the nature of their food, 

 their manner of taking it, their attitudes and motions, no less 

 than in many circumstances connected with their external form 

 and characters ; as, the general form of the body, the nature of 

 the fur, the character of the feet, the prominence and remark- 

 able size of the eyes, &c. There is, however, one very im- 

 portant peculiarity of the dormouse, which has not as yet been 

 observed to appertain to our animal, and that is its hyberna- 

 tion. 



The habits of the dormouse and squirrel in this respect are 

 universally known. Every one has seen the eagerness with 

 which these animals will seize, pick to pieces, and carry to 

 their places of repose, such substances as are placed within 

 their reach for the purpose of forming their winter bed. But 

 although similar substances have been given to the little animals 

 now described, no attempt has up to the present period (Novem- 

 ber 4th) been made by them to construct their winter habi- 

 tation ; and wherever the wool and other matters are placed, 

 there they take their day's rest, without disturbing or altering 

 the arrangement or situation. 



As both the specimens from which this account is taken are 

 still in liealth, it may be some time before an opportunity is 

 afforded of ascertaining their anatomical structure ; but whenever 



such 



