PET ANIMALS. 343 



a light brownish red, inclining to white on the underneath part, par- 

 ticularly on the throat, where it is almost a pure white ; while the 

 eyes are large and black. 



It is a dull, sluggish little animal, but perfectly harmless and in- 

 offensive in its temper, displaying neither aversion to those who 

 annoy, nor much affection to those who caress it. It is by no means 

 shy, soon becomes domesticated, and will suffer itself to be handled 

 freely, without evincing the slightest marks of displeasure. Like 

 most of the mouse tribe, it has four front teeth, but it seldom makea 

 use of them as a means of defence. It builds its nest with grass, 

 moss, dry leaves, &c., in the very thickest parts of some strong 

 quickset hedge, generally near the bottom where the root divides off 

 into a number of small upright branches ; here it so resembles the 

 clump of dry leaves usually collected there, as to escape being noticed 

 except on the strictest search ; even when discovered it is so com- 

 pletely protected by the cluster of stems, that unless these are cut 

 through, it is a matter of no small difficulty to secure it, without 

 doing injury to the little ones, should any happen to be inside. It 

 feeds on all sorts of fruit, acorns, beans, peas, and even corn. 

 During the winter it remains in a state of torpor, in preparation for 

 which, towards the end of autumn, it makes itself a small round 

 compact nest of the sharp prickly leaves of the fir tree, just large 

 enough to contain its body; into this it creeps on the approach of 

 cold weather, and remains tightly coiled up in the form of a ball, till 

 reanimated by the warmth of spring. An occasional fine day, how- 

 ever, in winter, will revive it, and tempt it from its retreat ; but tjie 

 returning cold quickly compels it to resume its former state. Mode- 

 rate warmth will always restore it to life, but sudden exposure to 

 the heat of fire destroys it ; but a gentle warmth, such as holding i* 

 in the hand, rouses it up without injury. Whilst in this state of 

 torpor, it appears to possess but little more warmth than any inani- 

 mate object, and to be deprived of all susceptibility to pain, except 

 that of a very acute description ; it may be rolled or even thrown 

 about without being roused in the least from its deathlike lethargy. 



They breed but once a year, and bring forth four or five young 

 ones at a litter. 



They are usually kept in pairs, in cages similar to those used for 

 the squirrel, only on a smaller scale. They may be fed on all sorts of 

 fruit, especially of the nut kind ; a little bread and milk may also be 

 given them, of course fresh every day. Their cages must be kept 

 perfectly clean ; the sleeping-box should be furnished with soft moss 

 or hay, to which a little cotton may be added when they are about 

 to litter. The male is seldom known to devour the little ones, and, 

 therefore, need never be separated from the female. During winter, 

 they should be kept in a warm room, when they will remain in an 

 active state all the year round, like most other animals. 



They may be bought of bird-fanciers for about eighteen-pence or 

 two shillings a pair. In the winter time, when the cold has driven 

 them to their nests, they may be found in great numbers in the 

 hedge-rows ; the bushes being then stripped of their foliage, their 

 little hiding-places are exposed more readily to view 



