THK DORMOl'SE. 



189 



Tin -t.-tal 1,-n-tli of thisaiiimal isnitli.'r moi,' than .-i-lit inches, of which ni.-:i>iii-.-ini-nt tli-- 

 tail ocrupi.". ih ..... inches. Tile p-ncral c..|,,i ..f its fur ia gray. d.-eph tinged with r-<l 

 ii|M.n tin- Lack, ami iMTiniiiiiu' white UIMIII tin- al*lometi. IMow lh.-.-\.- is a patch of Mai k 

 fur, \\liidi extends ii.-arh to the ears. Tin- tail .f the |>-n.t is r..\,.|i-<l \\ith >-),,,,; l,| a . k 

 hair, chan-im: rather al.rupth int.. white at its extremity. It has .l.-rh.-.l its title of (iaidm 

 Dormouse t'l.iin its annoying lml.it of entering gardens and making sad havoc of tin- choicOTt 

 fruit ; f>r it is an animal <>f jrrcat taste. and 

 makes it^ -el.-.'tion anmni: tin- liin-st and 

 I test fruits \\ith an acrura<-\ ..f judgment 

 that may ! highly agreeable to it.self, l.ut 



i- >in.-.-|.-l\ \'---l:it'-d l'\ ll ..... IU'1 if ' lit' 



ganl'-n. It is i-artii-nlarly fnd of -s|.ali 

 u-.iin.-d friiit-tn->s, :ind is nni.-h i:iv.-n to 

 d.-viiiiriii^ thf jwachee wlwti they are jn>t 

 in th.-ir l.loom of rosy ]MTfvtion. 



I /-rot is not cont.-nt \\ith making 



:inti|lil!i:il lai'N i!j'M ftfl gBnlflls, 



hut i^ .utlirifiitly j.niviil.'tit \ lay up a 

 store of food for the winter, and for that 

 purpose to cany niT corn. iea, and beans 

 in no small quantity. It* \vint-r neat ia 

 mad.- in soi ..... on\..|ii.-nt recess, where six 

 or eight Lerots congregate, and j>a-> th.- 

 cold wintry months in a sliiml>.-r which la 

 almost nnhrok.'ii. except by the needful 

 occasional wakings for the purpose of tak- 

 ing food. In summer time it makes a 

 temporary nest in hollow trees, holes in 

 old walls, or in similar localities, and 

 reposes during the daytime upon a bed 

 of dried grass and leaves. Sometimes it 

 is eo bold that it will make its way into 

 human habitations, and establish itself in 

 the very home of the justly incensed owner 

 of the garden. 



The young Lerots enter upon their 

 in th" ini'l'!!'- of -.nimi.-i. and 



\ 



LOIBB. OR PAT DORMOC8E.- 



triA WMklflffB] tSftitif. 'l'li"> io not. 

 however, become parents in their turn until the following year. The average number of 

 young Lerots which are produced at a single birth ia from four to six. 



THE common DOEMOCSE is abundantly found in many districts of England, as well as on 

 the Continent, and is in great favor as a domestic p-t. 



The total length ..f this pretty little animal is rather more than live inches, the tail being 

 two inches and a half long. The color of its fur is a light reddish l.n.wn npon the back, 

 yellowish-white upon the abdomen, and white on the throat. These tints belong to the adult 

 animal only, as in the juvenile Dormouse the fur is nearly, of the same color as that of tlie 

 common mouse, the ruddy tinge only appearing on the head and sides. It ia not until the 

 little creatures have nearly completed a year of existence that they assume the beautiful 

 hues of adult age. The tail is thickly covered with hair, which is arranged in a double row 

 throughout its length, and forms a slight tuft at the extremity. The head is rather large In 

 proportion to the body, the ears are large and broad, and the eye full, black, and slightly 

 prominent. 



The Dormouse is a nocturnal animal, passing the whole of the day in its warm and neatly 

 constructed nest, which is generally built in the most retired spot of some thick bush or small 



