288 THE COMMON DORMOUSE. 



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ther which ushered in the year 1795, confirmed thfo 

 opinion apparently beyond dispute ; for, notwith-* 

 standing the hard frost, the animal braved the cold 

 with wonderful indifference. It awoke every even- 

 ing, and generally consumed, in the course of the 

 night, a quantity of food amounting to about a 

 hundred or a hundred and twenty grains ; and it 

 frequently gnawed the ice which covered the water 

 in its cage. It even undertook, in the coldest 

 part of January,, to repair its nest, which happened 

 to receive an injury, and it accomplished the task 

 in the course of a single night. 



The Dormouse has, in no instance, been known 

 to frequent houses ; and it is very seldom to be 

 found even in gardens. The female forms her nest 

 of interwoven moss, dead leaves, and grass, about 

 six inches in diameter, with*an orifice near the top, 

 generally amongst the branches of nut-trees, or 

 other underwood. In this, about the month of 

 May or June, she brings forth her offspring, which 

 are usually three or four in number. 



In some parts of the continent, the flesh of the 

 Dormouse constitutes a favourite article of food. 



In Wales this animal is called pathew : in France, 

 muscardin, croque-noix, rat-d'or: in Italy, mm car- 

 dino: in Spain, liron : in Germany, rothe, wald- 

 maus: in Holland, hazel muns : in Sweden, skogs- 

 mus : in Denmark, liasel muus: in Russia, slepz. 



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