COMMON DORMOUSE. 283 



Sciuridce, which may be regarded as the most highly organ- 

 ized group of the whole order. In the general appearance 

 and habits of the Dormouse there is much to remind us 

 of the Squirrels. Inhabiting dense shrubs and thickets — 

 building its nest amidst the foliage of the underwood of 

 coppices, or in the tangled vegetation of hedgerows — feed- 

 ing upon corn, haws, young hazel-nuts, and fallen acorns 

 — laying up a hoard of provision for the winter, and assum- 

 ing an almost total torpidity during that ungenial season 

 — its habits appear to be intermediate between the two 

 families alluded to. The tail in the Myoxus (/lis, a common 

 species in the south of Europe, is nearly allied to that of 

 Squirrels ; but that of our native species is farther re- 

 moved from it, although still somewhat bushy, and having 

 the same distichous arrangement of the hairs. 



The toes, although prehensile, are destitute of the 

 strong claws which enable the Squirrel to ascend the 

 naked boles of trees with such astonishing rapidity, but 

 have these parts weak and short, and are formed instead 

 to perform pretty much the office of hands, enabling the 

 creature to climb from sprig to sprig in the branches of 

 trees or amongst underwood. Both fore and hind feet 

 are well padded internally with fleshy broadish tubercles, 

 thus converting them, as we have already intimated, into 

 hands, in the use of which the creature, when creeping 

 about in a bush of whitethorn, as we have seen it, ex- 

 hibits an adroitness which is quite unequalled by the 

 little agile Harvest Mouse, and scarcely surpassed by 

 the Squirrel. 



Although extremely gentle and inoffensive, and easily 

 rendered familiar when in confinement, it chooses its 

 habitation far iVom the haunts of man, and, from its 

 retiring and nocturnal habits, is not easily observed and 

 taken. it is found in the localities indicated above, 



