320 STRANGE DIVELLINGS. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



BRANCH-BUILDING MAMMALIA. 



The DOKMOUSE in Confinement, and at Liberty — Nest of the Dormouse — Its 

 position, materials, and dimensions — Entrance to the nest — The winter 

 treasury — The Loire and the Lerot. 



We now come to another division of the subject, namely, the 

 nests that are built in branches ; and adhering to the system 

 which has been followed through the progress of the work, we 

 shall take first the branch-building mammalia. 



There are but few mammals which can be reckoned in this 

 division, but our little island produces two of them, namely, 

 the squirrel and the Dormouse {Muscardinus ave//afiarius). 

 The former of these animals have been already described at 

 page 1 1 8. 



The pretty little brown-coated, white-bellied Dormouse is 

 familiar to all who have been fond of keeping pets. There is 

 no difficulty in preserving the animal in health, and, therefore, 

 it is a favourite among those who like to keep animals and do 

 not like the trouble of looking after them. It is, however, 

 rather an uninteresting animal when kept in a cage, as it 

 sleeps during the greater part of the day, and the sight of a 

 round ball of brown fur is not particularly amusing. 



When kept in confinement, it is obliged to make for itselt a 

 very inartificial nest, because it is deprived of proper materials 

 and a suitable locality. It does its best with the soft hay and 

 cotton wool which are usually provided for it, but it cannot do 

 much with such materials. But when in a state of liberty, 

 and able to work in its own manner, it is an admirable nest- 

 maker. As it passes the day in sleep, it must needs have 

 some retired domicile in which it can be hidden from the many 

 enemies which might attack a sleeping animal. 



