A Gaged Dormouse. 103 



This evinces a fact, I believe, not hitherto noted, that 

 green vegetables form part of the food of the Dormouse. 

 By most naturalists it is described as subsisting on 

 acorns, beech-mast, grain, haws, and hazel-nuts, especially 

 the last, from which it has derived its specific name, 

 Avellanarius a mistake and misnomer, according to 

 Bell, who says : " The name Avellanarius is not well 

 chosen, as the principal food of the Dormouse does not 

 certainly consist of the hazel-nut ; indeed, I have never 

 seen any that could gnaw through the shell of that nut 

 when fully ripe and dry." 



My own observations, made on the one before me, are 

 so far confirmatory of this view. After allowing it to 

 hunger for two days, with only unshelled hazel-nuts in 

 the cage, it did not gnaw through any of these shells, 

 though it had tried several, as could be seen by its tooth- 

 marks here and there over them. 



Still the specific name, which was bestowed by Linnaeus, 

 may not be so inappropriate, since there can be no doubt 

 of the Dormouse feeding upon hazel-nuts, and being fond 

 of them. But, I think, it can only get at their kernels 

 when in the green state, before the shells become 

 hardened. At that time it is often seen perched upon 

 hazel trees far above the height of a man's head, and 

 seemingly as much at home there as any bird. 



In reality, this beautiful little quadruped is more 

 squirrel than mouse, though naturalists regard it as a 

 connecting link holding half-way relations between the 

 two. Certainly it looks like a miniature squirrel, the 

 rufous colour of its coat and bushy herring-bone tail giv- 

 ing it this appearance, while removing it from that of the 

 mouse family, often so repulsive. Its habits, moreover, 

 liken it more to the Sciuridce than the Muridce. It is a. 



