350 SOME OBSERVATIONS ON BRITISH MICE. 



tain no less than nine. The panicles and leaves of the grass 

 were very artificially woven together, the latter being first 

 slit by the little animal's teeth into more or less minute 

 bands or strings. ... It suffered considerable disturbance 

 even from the most careful handling, losing in neatness of 

 form as much as it gained in its increasing size." 



It will be remembered that White says that the nest he 

 saw was " so compact and well filled that it would roll 

 across the table without being discomposed." These con- 

 flicting statements may be reconciled, if we bear in mind 

 that, according to Brehm, these mice improve in the art of 

 nest-building as they advance in age. Doubtless the nest 

 described by White was the handiwork of an old and ex- 

 perienced mouse, while the one which formed the subject 

 of Dr. Gloger's remarks was the crude production of a 

 youngster. 



In favourable situations two or three broods are reared 

 every year, and allowing six or seven for an average litter, 

 we can imagine how swiftly our little grain-stealers would 

 increase, but for the unremitting attentions of cats and 

 weasels, hawks and owls. 



The dormouse {myoxits avellanarhts) . The dormouse 

 occupies the position of a link between the squirrels and the 

 mice. He is clothed with thick yellow fur, he has fine 

 spreading whiskers, a full beady eye, and, unlike the mouse 

 proper, he has his ears protected with fur. His tail, too, 

 points to his affinity with the squirrel's ; it has large thick 

 vertebrae, and is covered with hair, though not so thickly 

 as the squirrel's. He further resembles the squirrels by 

 hibernating through the winter months. 



As may be at once surmised by observing the mild and 

 innocent expression of his countenance and his large eyes, 

 the dormouse is a nocturnal animal, and a second glance at the 



