THE DORrMOUSE. 31? 



Different species. 



the Russian dominions. It generally resides in 

 the trunks of hollow trees, subsisting mostly on. 

 fruits and acorns. Its flesh was formerly held 

 in high esteem among the Romans, and is still 

 considered as a delicacy in some parts of Italy. 



The garden dormouse is to be found in most 

 of the southern countries of Europe, and the 

 most temperate parts of Russia; where it feeds 

 upon roots and fruits of all descriptions. A 

 broad black circle surrounds the eyes; it has also 

 a black spot behind each ear, and a bush at the 

 extremity of the tail: the head and body are of a 

 tawny colour ; and its smell is foetid and disa- 

 greeable. 



The Chilian dormouse, as its name implies, is 

 a native of Chili, in South America. This ani- 

 mal is larger than the common rat, of a dull 

 white colour, with a black stripe across the 

 shoulders, and resides in deep burrows under 

 ground. 



The earless dormouse derives its appellation 

 from the smallness of its ears, which are scarcely 

 perceptible, but on close inspection. It is about 

 the size of a common squirrel, of a pale ferrugin- 

 ous colour, except a white line on each side, ex- 

 tending from the ahoulder to the hind parts ; it 

 has also a white stripe or line over each eye. 

 The feet and belly are of a dingy white; the back 

 part of the hind-legs black and naked : it has a 

 large protuberance on the fore-feet, and the toes 

 are long and distinct, terminating with very long 



