CHAPTER XXXII 



RODENTS continued 



THE MOUSE-LIKE RODENTS 

 Families MTOXID^, MURID^E, SPALACID^, etc. 



THE Rodents treated of in the present chapter comprise several families more 

 or less closely related to the rats and mice, and hence collectively termed the mouse- 

 like group. They differ from the squirrel-like Rodents described in the preceding 

 chapter in the following points. In the first place, as shown in the accompany- 



ing figure of the skeleton of the dor- 

 mouse, the two bones of the lower leg 

 (tibia and fibula) are united at their 

 extremities. Secondly, in the slender 

 zygomatic or cheek arch of the skull, 

 the cheek bone (jugal) seldom extends 

 far forward, and is usually supported 

 from below by a long process from the 

 upper jawbone (maxilla). None of 



SKELETON AND MOLARS OF COMMON them haye aQy postorbita l processes ill 



DORMOUSE. , i . . , , . , , 



the skull marking the hinder boundary 



of the upper part of the eye sockets, and in no case is there more than a single pair 

 of premolar teeth in each jaw, while frequently even these may be wanting in either 

 one or both jaws. 



THE DORMICE 

 Family 



The elegant little creatures known as dormice, or sleepers, so closely resemble 

 diminutive squirrels in form and habits, that they are commonly regarded as closely 

 allied to that group. Apparently, however, these external resemblances are solely 

 due to adaptation to a similar mode of life, the relationship of the dormice to the 

 true mice being much closer than it is to the squirrels. 



The dormice are confined to Europe, Asia (exclusive of the Indian and Malayan 

 regions), and Africa, and are all of small size and arboreal habits. They are char- 

 acterized by their large ears and eyes, and long, thickly-haired tails, the fore -limbs 

 being short in proportion to the hinder ones. There is a pair of premolar teeth in 

 both jaws, so that the total number of cheek-teeth on each side is four; and these 

 teeth are furnished with distinct roots, and have their crowns marked with trans- 

 (1276) 



