THE DORMOUSE OR SLEEPER 365 
ham Pond, Sussex, in a very open situation in a bed of 
withies, standing in reeds and water. A furze bush often 
affords a convenient site, and in the Isle of Wight ivy-clothed 
rocks or trees, and ricks,* are much sought after; in other 
localities, the vicinity of the climbing ‘‘old man’s beard,” ? the 
downy seeds of which make a warm lining in autumn, or a 
dormitory may be formed entirely of them ;* which shows how 
loosely these structures are held together. But the more usual 
materials are dried grass, gathered green,* and moss, lined 
with finer grass, or with warmer materials, such as sheep’s 
wool. In Shropshire, Mr Forrest® has examined scores of 
nests all thus simply constructed. But near Shrewsbury the 
same writer® finds them never far removed from a clump of 
honeysuckle in autumn, when alone the dead bark can be 
obtained in quantity. This often provides the only material, 
long coarse strips externally, holding a lining of shreds; 
occasionally dead leaves are added, but no grass. Mr Cocks 
found one which, although autumnal (22nd Sept. 1903), 
was entirely composed of fresh green hazel leaves. The loose 
weaving of the nests, and the fact observed’ in captivity 
that one can be put together in a single night, make it 
possible that several may be built by each individual in a 
season. 
For her young the female usually prepares a special nursery. 
This resembles, in its materials and construction, the ordinary 
summer dormitory, but is larger, the diameter being about 
6 inches or more;®* it is often placed close to, although not 
actually on, the ground; and careless mothers may even use an 
ordinary dormitory for a nursery. The separate retreat of the 
old male is generally not far away. 
Dormice are sedentary, and probably monogamous 
creatures ; being active only during the six months of plenty, 
and laying up a store against their spring awakening, they 
have no need to wander. Mr Steele Elliott watched two pairs 
1 Capt. Henry Hadfield, in G. T. Rope, Zoo/ogis#, 1885, 202. 
2 Clematis vitalba. 3 Adams, 17S. 
4 A common arrangement includes four layers, e.g.—(1) externally a few dead 
leaves ; (2) grass ; (3) a double layer of bramble leaves ; (4) a lining of fine grass. 
5 Zoologist, 1901, 69. 8 Journ. cit., 1902, 23. 
’ Forrest ; Lataste. 8 Adams, JS. 
VOL. Il. 2A2 
