THE GREY DORMOUSE 



THE GREY DORMOUSE 



(Graphiurus ocularis) 



The Grey Dormouse is so called because of the 

 ashy-grey colour of its fur. It can be distinguished 

 from the Cape Dormouse by its larger size, colour 

 of fur, and the black-and-white markings which are 

 present on its head. On the snout and chin there 

 is a reddish tinge. It is the largest of the South 

 African Dormice, 6| inches in length from nose 

 to root of tail. The tail is bushy and long, being 

 about two-thirds the length of the body. The 

 Grey Dormice are widely distributed in the Cape 

 Province, both to the west and east, and occur 

 in the Transvaal, South-West Africa, and in 

 many other localities where the environment is 

 suitable. The natural home of this Dormouse is in 

 forest trees, the holes in old rotten branches and 

 tree-trunks of which afford shelter from its enemies, 

 the birds of prey. Although it may hide itself 

 where it will, the Boomslang, or Tree Snake, seeks 

 it out and devours both it and its young. If there 

 are stone walls in the vicinity of its bushy home, 

 the Dormouse often resorts to these and takes up 

 its abode in the crevices. It can frequently be 

 seen running about the old stone walls of cattle 

 and sheep kraals, where it picks up a living by 

 devouring the beetles and other creatures, such as 

 the larvae of flies which feed on and pupate in the 



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