I28o THE RODENTS 



rather less than five, inches. The thick and soft fur is of an ashy-gray color, more 

 or less shaded with dark brown above, while on the under parts and the inner sides 

 of the limbs it is silvery white; near the junction of the dark upper parts with the 

 white of the under surface the color becomes grayish brown. The eyes are sur- 

 rounded by dark rings, and the tip of the snout, as well as part of the throat, are 

 white. The ears are of moderate size, and rounded. 



This species is found in Southern and Eastern Europe, extending from Spain, 

 Greece, and Italy, through South and Central Germany to Austria, Syria, and the 

 south of Russia; it is unknown in Denmark and Scandinavia. 



In general habits this species closely resembles the common dormouse, but it 

 generally lies concealed during the day in the hollow of a tree, the cleft of a rock, 

 or the burrow of another Rodent, and its breeding nest is invariably concealed in 

 some such situation, and is never built among the boughs of bushes like that of the 

 English dormouse. In autumn it becomes still fatter than the latter, and in this 

 state it was much esteemed as a delicacy by the ancient Romans. The period of 

 hibernation, according to Brehm, generally endures for upward of seven months; 

 these animals rarely coming forth before the latter part of April. The young, 

 which are sometimes born in the deserted nest of a starling, are usually from three 

 to six in number, and although blind, naked, and helpless at birth, are remarkable 

 for the rapidity with which they come to maturity. In addition to various nuts 

 and berries, this dormouse consumes fruit, and is also said to devour small birds 

 and other animals. In its turn, it is preyed upon by martens, polecats, stoats, and 

 wild cats. Like the common species the squirrel-tailed dormouse is easily domesti- 

 cated, and during its period of activity forms an attractive little pet. 



In Southern Russia, Hungary, Lower Austria, and Siberia there is 

 D a second species of dormouse {M. dryas), nearly allied to the last, but 



of considerable smaller size, although larger than the garden dor- 

 mouse. It is generally reddish brown above and white beneath (including the 

 lower surface of the tail), and is easily recognized by the black line extending from 

 near the nose through the eye to the root of the ear. The painted dormouse (M. 

 pictus), of Eastern Persia, is a brighter colored form closely allied to the above. 



The garden dormouse (M. nitela}, which is represented on the right 

 The Garden , , * ... . 4 , 



D hand of the illustration on p. 1279, is the European representative of a 



group of several species, distinguished from the preceding by the 

 thinner and tufted tail, the larger and more pointed ears, and the characteristics of 

 the cheek-teeth. These teeth are relatively small, and have their grinding surfaces 

 concave, with the foldings of enamel very faintly marked. The group is repre- 

 sented in Africa as well as in Southern Europe. 



The garden dormouse was known to the ancient Romans as the nitela, and on 

 the Continent at the present day is termed in France the lerot, and in Germany the 

 gartenschlafer. It is smaller than the squirrel-tailed dormouse, although larger 

 than the common species, the length of the head and body being at the most five 

 and one-half inches, while the tail measures about three and three-fourths inches. 

 The head and upper parts are grayish brown, with a more or less marked rufous 

 tinge, and the under parts pure white. A black ring encircles the eye, and thence 



