178 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



this may be situated on the ground in an open field, while in- 

 stances are on record where the deserted nest of a Thrush or 

 Blackbird haj been taken possession of and fitted up to suit 

 the requirements of its new occupants. In addition to nuts, 

 its food, according to Mr. Harting, comprises " acorns, seeds 

 of the hornbeam and other forest-trees, grain, and fruit of dif- 

 ferent kinds, particularly grapes. In confinement, a bit of 

 apple or pear is generally eaten with relish. The Dormouse 

 will also suck the eggs of small birds, as a Squirrel will do, and 

 it seems to be not generally known that it is insectivorous." 

 In evidence of the latter habit the author quoted states that 

 captive specimens have been known to eat aphides, nut-weevils, 

 and caterpillars of various kinds. 



Although so much resembling a diminutive Squirrel, both 

 in form and habits, sitting up on its haunches and grasping its 

 food with its fore-paws in true Squirrel-like fashion, the Dor- 

 mouse is structurally much more nearly allied to the Mice, and 

 its resemblance to the former animal is doubtless due to 

 adaptation to a similar mode of life. Confirmation of this is 

 afforded by the circumstance that certain arboreal Mice are 

 exceedingly Dormouse-like in appearance. 



The most remarkable peculiarity connected with the habits 

 of the Dormouse is the length of time occupied by its hiberna- 

 tion, which sometimes extends uninterruptedly over a period 

 of as much as six months. That this hibernation is, however, 

 generally broken, is indicated by the circumstance that the Dor- 

 mouse lays up a winter-store of provision ; and, according to 

 Bell, an unusually mild day is sufficient to waken the little 

 creature from hs slumbers, when it consumes a portion of its 

 hoard, and once more curls itself to resume its sleep. Ex- 

 tremely fat at the commencement of its hibernation, by the 

 time spring comes round the creature is much reduced in 

 bulk. While adult Dormice commence their hibernation as 



