220 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



parts, with yellowish below ; there is an elongated patch of white on 

 the throat and chest. The total length of body and tail is about five 

 and a half inches. The usual habitats are hedges, woods and 

 plantations. Green lanes — fast disappearing features of rural Eng- 

 land — are, I find, favourite haunts, and I have during a few hours' 

 ramble found quite a number of these trim and elegant little beasts 

 snugly tucked up in a grassy ball-like nest in the hedgerow during 

 early Spring. 



It is a good plan to search for it where the nut-hazel flourishes, 

 as the animal exhibits a partiality for the nuts and will often make 

 its nest in the stump of a hazel-bush. It also partakes of grain, 

 acorns, fruit and the seeds of various woodland trees. Beyond this 

 dietary it has the habit of taking birds' eggs (like that woodland 

 rover the Squirrel) as well as insects. 



The lengthy sleep it undergoes during the Winter is one of the 

 most interesting phases connected with the life of this small creature, 

 as it will often hibernate for six months at a stretch. A change in 

 the temperature from cold to warmth will, however, tempt it from 

 its snug Winter quarters, when it feeds upon the store it has wisely 

 provided in case of emergency, but, having had a good fill, it retires 

 again until the advent of brighter days. When it commences to 

 undergo its long fast the Dormouse is fat and well calculated to go 

 without food for some months, but at the conclusion of its sleep it 

 has become considerably lessened in bulk and eagerly partakes of 

 food. So securely tucked up is this animal, and so soundly does it 

 slumber, that I have taken it from the nest, carried it home in my 

 warm hand, and rolled it across a table without the slightest effect 

 on the little slumberer. Continuous handling of the creature at such 

 time, however, is bound to awaken it sooner or later, and the look 

 of surprise and the bright black glistening eyes are a study worthy 

 of an artist's brush. 



The young are generally four in number and are produced during 

 the Spring. They are blind at birth, but when a few days old 

 acquire their sight and are soon able to forage for themselves. At 

 first the young Dormice have a mouse-grey dress with the exception 

 of the head and flanks, but by degrees the reddish-brown of the 

 adult animal is assumed. 



CANADIAN JUMPING MOUSE.— This interesting rodent (Fig. 171) 

 belongs to a family in which the Jerboas are included, and all the 

 species lead a terrestrial life. They possess very long hind-limbs 



