io8 RODENTS. 



the limbs it is silvery- white ; near the junction of the dark upper-parts with the 

 white of the under surface the colour becomes greyish brown. The eyes are 

 surrounded by dark rings, and the tip of the snout, as well as part of the throat, 

 are white. The ears are moderate size, and rounded. 



This species is found in Southern and Eastern Europe, extending from Spain, 

 Greece, and Italy, through South and Central Germany to Austria, Syria, and the 

 south of Russia ; it is unknown in Denmark and Scandinavia. 



In general habits this species closely resembles the common dormouse, but it 

 generally lies concealed during the day in the hollow of a tree, the cleft of a rock, 

 or the burrow of another rodent ; and its breeding-nest is invariably concealed in 

 some such situation, and is never built among the Hboughs of bushes like that of 

 the English dormouse. In autumn it becomes still fatter than the latter ; and in 

 this state it w^as much esteemed as a delicacy by the ancient Romans. The period 

 of hibernation, according to Brehm, generally endures for upwards of seven months ; 

 these animals rarely coming forth before the latter part of April. The young, 

 which are sometimes born in the deserted nest of a starling, are usually from three 

 to six in number ; and although blind, naked, and helpless at birth, are remarkable 

 for the rapidity with which they come to maturity. In addition to various nuts 

 and berries, this dormouse consumes fruit, and is also said to devour small birds 

 and other animals. In its turn, it is preyed upon by martens, polecats, stoats, and 

 wild cats. Like the common species, the squirrel-tailed dormouse is easily 

 domesticated ; and during its period of activity forms an attractive little pet. 



The Tree- In Southern Russia, Hungary, lower Austria, and Siberia there 



Dormouse. j s a second species of dormouse (M. dry as), nearly allied to the 

 last, but of considerable smaller size, although larger than the garden dormouse. 

 It is generally reddish brown above and white beneath (including the lower surface 

 of the tail) ; and is easily recognised by the black line extending from near the 

 nose through the eye to the root of the ear. The painted dormouse (M. pictu-s), 

 of Eastern Persia, is a brighter coloured form closely allied to the above. 



The Garden The garden dormouse (M. nitela), which is represented on the 



Dormouse, right hand of the illustration on p. 107, is the European repre- 

 sentative of a group of several species ; distinguished from the preceding by the 

 thinner and tufted tail, the larger and more pointed ears, and the characters of 

 the cheek-teeth. These teeth are relatively small, and have their grinding 

 surfaces concave, with the foldings of enamel very faintly marked. The group is 

 represented in Africa as well as in Southern Europe. 



The garden dormouse was known to the ancient Romans as the nitela, and on 

 the Continent at the present clay is termed in France the lerot, and in Germany 

 the gartenschldfer. It is smaller than the squirrel-tailed dormouse, although 

 larger than the common species, the length of the head and body being at the most 

 5J inches, while the tail measures about 3|- inches. The head and upper-parts are 

 greyish brown, with a more less marked rufous tinge, and the under-parts pure 

 white. A black ring encircles the eye, and thence extends backwards as a streak 

 beneath the ear to the neck ; w^hile there are dark and light spots behind and in 

 front of the ears. The tail is greyish brown at the base, but at the end black above 

 and white below. 



