38 



THE MAMMALS OF THE WOODS 



species (G. nitclla) the ears are half as long as the head, the colour is reddish 

 grey above, lighter at the sides, white below, and round the eyes there are black 

 rings which extend beneath the ear to the side of the neck. On each shoulder 

 there is a similar spot, and in front and behind the ears are other white spots ; 

 the tail is reddish grey at the root, black at the tip, and white below. This 

 dormouse is found in gardens and orchards in the warmer parts of western and 

 southern Europe. It is fond of meat, and builds its nest and rears its young 



THE COMMON DORMOUSE. 



sometimes in the hollows of trees, but often in unprotected spots between small 

 branches, or even in the abandoned nest of a thrush. 



Common 

 Dormouse. 



The common dormouse, which represents another genus (Mus- 

 cardinus avellanarius), is pale yellow both above and beneath; its 

 throat and breast being white, a circle round the ears and eyes light red, the 

 upper side of the tail brownish red, and the feet red with the toes whitish. 

 The species seems to be confined to Europe, ranging from the British Isles and 



