DORMICE 



37 



combats between rival males. Some weeks later the female brings forth three to 



four young ones, which at first are blind, 

 carried by their parents to another drey. 



At the slightest disturbance* these are 



Squirrel-Tailed 

 Dormouse 



The dormice, or Glirida', are much like squirrels in habits 

 as well as in appearance. They are small ci-eatures with narrow 

 heads, rather large eyes, nearly naked ears, and short bodies ; their fore-feet carry 

 four toes, the thumb being short with a small flat nail : but the hind-feet have 

 the usual five toes. The bushy tail is about as long as the body, and the upper 

 lip is cleft. Their fore-legs are short, and have short nails to the toes, although 



THE UARDEN-DORMOrSE. 



dormice live in trees. Dormice are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The largest 

 of the European species is the squirrel-tailed dormouse (Glis esculentus), which 

 gives its name to the family. In this species the ears are one-third longer than 

 the head ; the colour is ashy grey above, sometimes with a brown hue, and white 

 below. Round each eye is a dark brown ring. The fore-feet are greyish white, 

 the hind-feet whitish with dark brown stripes on the upper side. The tail is 

 light brownish grey above, and a little lighter below. 



Garden 

 Dormouse. 



The garden - dormouse represents a type distinguished from 

 the last by the nature of the hair of the tail, which is short near 

 the root, but long and bushy at the tip ; the ears are also larger, and the upper 

 and lower surfaces of the body are differently coloured. In the central European 



