THE DORMOUSE 65 



left without any inkling of the fate of the owners 

 of the nest. 



In books of reference it is commonly stated 

 that the dormouse breeds twice in the season, 

 the first litter being born in April or May and 

 the second in the autumn. This may be correct as 

 regards the Continent and the southern counties of 

 England, but it certainly does not apply to the 

 rest of the country. In the Midlands it breeds in 

 the autumn, from August to October. I have 

 found many nests containing young during 

 August and September, but only one earlier. I 

 found this exceptionally early family on June 24th, 

 the young ones appearing but a few hours old. 

 Late litters are less unusual, and I have met with 

 a breeding nest containing young ones, that did 

 not appear many days old, during the first week 

 in November. Disaster probably overtook these 

 youngsters, for shortly afterwards the weather 

 became very cold, and a fall in the temperature 

 always sends dormice into hibernation, so their 

 mother would have to retire into slumber, while 

 they probably died. 



The length of time that dormice hibernate sup- 

 ports my belief that spring breeding in these islands 

 is most exceptional, for they do not awake to full 

 activity before the beginning or even middle of 

 April, and as each one has slept away the winter 

 in its solitary hiding place, they have to find each 

 other, and conduct their courtship, before mating 

 takes place, and therefore it is impossible for 

 the earliest litters to arrive before the end of 



5 



