RATS AND MICE 91 



Large Grey Dormouse {Graph iur us ocularis), measur- 

 ing some C) inches in length, with a tail of 4 inches with 

 no white tip. This Dormouse is said to range all over 

 Cape Colony, extending into Damaraland and the Central 

 Transvaal. It is easily distinguished by its prettily 

 marked black-and-white head. 



Cape Dormouse {Graphiiirus murimis), measuring only 

 slightly over 4 inches, and with a tail of 8^ inches, 

 also without a white tip. It is found in the more 

 wooded districts, ranging from East Africa southwards 

 to Cape Colony, and is usually arboreal in habit, although 

 it may be found in old stone walls, kc. 



There are three more species inhabiting Ehodesia and 

 South-AVest Africa which need not here concern us 

 further. 



These little animals live in holes or hollows in trees, 

 under thatched roofs of houses or huts, or even in old 

 stone walls, where they build a nest of grass or other 

 suitable material. We have kept both species described 

 above in the Pretoria Zoo, where the Cape Dormouse 

 has even bred, bringing forth three naked and blind 

 young ones in a rounded nest of tow and grass, built 

 inside a small square box. They fed upon sunflower 

 seeds, ground-nuts, bread and milk, &c. ; but insects and 

 their larvae, fruits, berries, and young shoots, kc, form 

 the bill of fare in the wild state. Like their European 

 relations they hibernate during our cold months. 



Family MUEID.E. 

 Rats and Mice. Botten en Muizcn. 



A family of small to medium-sized rodents, without 

 premolars, a reduced pollex (first toe of the hind foot) 

 and, with few exceptions, a sparsely haired tail. The 

 skull is without post-orbital processes and has contracted 



