THE COMMON DORMOUSE. 285 



they lie, in an entirely torpid state, in holes or 

 burrows, under the surface of the ground. 



The females breed in the spring or summer, and 

 generally produce from three to twelve young ones 

 at a litter. 



THE COMMON DORMOUSE*. 



SLEEPER. 



THESE animals were once classed by Linnaeus 

 among the Micef; but whatever may be their ge- 

 neral external resemblance to Mice, they seem, in 

 their habits of life, and in most of their actions, to 

 have a nearer alliance to the Squirrels. They 

 inhabit woods or thick hedges; and form their 

 nests in the hollows of low trees, or near the bot- 

 tom of close shrubs. They want much of the 

 sprightliness of the Squirrel; and never ascend to 

 the tops of trees, or, like that animal, attempt to 

 bound even from one branch of a shrub to another. 



* Myoxus Muscardinus. Linnaeus. Le Muscardin. Buffon. 

 For the description of the Dormouse, see the Synopsis, p. 49, 

 No. 32. 



t Under the name of Mus aveUanarius. 



During 



