330 lilSTOUY OP 



MIDDLE, which he calls the lerot ; the less, which he denomi- 

 nates the wuscARDiN, They differ from each other in size, ths 

 largest being equal to a rat, the least being no bigger than a 

 mouse. They all differ from the rat in having the tail tufted 

 with hair, in the manner of a squirrel, except that the squirrel's 

 tail is flat, resembling a fan ; and theirs round, resembling a 

 brush. The lerot differs from the loir by having two black spots 

 near the eyes ; the muscardin differs from both in the whitish col- 

 our of its hair on the back. They all three agree in having black 

 sparkling eyes ; and the whiskers partly white and partly black. 

 They agree in their being stupified, like the marmout, during 

 the winter, and in their hoarding up provisions to serve them in 

 case of a temporary revivaL 



They inhabit the woods or very thick hedges, forming their 

 nests in the hollow of some tree, or near the bottom of a close 

 shrub, humbly content with continuing at the bottom, and never 

 aspiring to sport among the branches. Towards the approach 

 of the cold season, they form a little magazine of nuts, beans, or 

 acorns ; and having laid in their hoard, shut themselves up with 

 it for the winter. As soon as they feel the first advances of the 

 cold, they prepare to lessen its effect by rolling themselves up in 

 a ball, and thus exposing the smallest surface to the weather. 

 But it often happens that the warmth of a sunny day, or an ac- 

 'idental change from cold to heat, thaws their nearly stagnant 

 fluids, and they revive. On such occasions they have their pro- 

 visions laid in, and they have not far to seek for their support. 

 In this manner they continue usually asleep, but sometimes 

 waking, for about five months in the year, seldom venturing 

 from their retreats, and, consequently, but rarely seen. Their 

 nests are lined with moss, grass, and dead leaves ; they usually 

 oring forth three or four young at a time, and that but once a 

 year, in the spring. 



THE MUSK RAT. 



Of these animals of the rat kind, but with a musky smelJ, 



in till' ball with hor yomig, wliicli, raorcover, would be daily Incrensing in 

 iMilk." 



Mr White informs us, that though they constructed nests for breeairi!* 

 above ground, and are found most abundantly in ccrn-ricks in Hainpshi/e 

 they nevertheless burrow in winter, and pass the severe season undergiound. 



