COMMON MOUSE. 101 



but all agree in their propensities and habitudes. The 

 common dormouse has full black eyes, round naked ears, 

 a tail two inches and a half long, with a body about the 

 size of the common mouse, though rather more plump. 

 It is covered with a red tawny fur, except on the throat, 

 which is white. This variety inhabits every part of 

 Europe. It generally builds its nest near the bottom of a 

 thick hedge, either with moss or leaves; and subsists oi~ 

 nuts, which it eats in an erect posture, like a squirrel. 



Towards the approach of winter, these animals form 

 magazines of nuts, beans or acorns; and, as soon as the 

 cold is sensibly felt, they prepare to mitigate its effects by 

 rolling themselves up into a round ball, and thus exposing 

 the smallest surface to the weather. It frequently happens, 

 however, that either the heat of the sun or the transition 

 from cold to warmth thaws their nearly stagnant fluids, 

 and awakens them from their torpor. On such occasions, 

 as their provisions are at hand, they enjoy their stores till 

 their natural lethargy returns ; in which they usually con- 

 tinue about five months out of the twelve. The female 

 breeds but once in the year, and seldom brings forth more 

 than four or five at a time. 



COMMON MOUSE. 



Though there are field-mice, garden-mice, and wood- 

 mice, which are only slightly discriminated from each 

 other, the timid, cautious, active, little animal now under 

 consideration, is wholly domestic. Fearful by nature, but 

 familiar through necessity, it is a parasitical attendant upon 

 the human race. To seek food is the only incitement 

 which it has to quit its hole, and then it seldom ventures 

 farther than its wants compel it. When fed in a cage, it 

 retains all its natural apprehensions ; and, though it may be 

 tamed to a certain degree, it never discovers the smallest 

 signs of attachment to its benefactor. 



No animal has more enemies to avoid than the mouse ; 

 yet its extreme fecundity keeps up the race without any 

 apparent diminution. Aristotle informs us, that, having 

 ? 3 



