CHAPTER XXXII. 



RODENTS, continued. 



THE MOUSE-LIKE RODENTS. 



Families MYOXID^, MURID&, SPALAClDsE, etc. 



THE Rodents treated of in the present chapter comprise several families mo:*e or 

 less closely related to the rats and mice, and hence collectively termed the mouse- 

 like group. They differ from the squirrel-like Rodents described in the preceding 

 chapter in the following points. In the first place, as shown in the accompanying 



figure of the skeleton -of the dormouse, 

 the two bones of the lower leg (tibia and 

 fibula) are united at their extremities. 

 Secondly, in the slender zygomatic or 

 cheek-arch of the skull, the cheek-bone 

 (jugal) seldom extends far forwards, and 

 is usually supported from below by a long 

 process from the upper jawbone (maxilla). 

 None of them have any postorbital 

 SKELETON AND MOLARS OF COMMON DORMOUSE. processes in the skull marking the hinder 



boundary of the upper part of the eye- 

 sockets, and in no case is there more than a single pair of premolar teeth in each 

 jaw, while frequently even these may be wanting in either one or both jaws. 



THE DORMICE. 

 Family MYOXID^. 



The elegant little creatures known as dormice, or sleepers, so closely resemble 

 diminutive squirrels in form and habits, that they are commonly regarded as closely 

 allied to that group. Apparently, however, these external resemblances are solely 

 due to adaptation to a similar mode of life, the relationship of the dormice to the 

 true mice being much closer than it is to the squirrels. 



The dormice are confined to Europe, Asia (exclusive of the Indian and Malayan 

 regions), and Africa, and are all of small size and arboreal habits. They are 

 characterised by their large ears and eyes, and long, thickly-haired tails, the fore- 

 limbs being short in proportion to the hinder ones. There is a pair of premolar 

 teeth in both jaws, so that the total number of cheek-teeth on each side is four ; 



