THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. VI.] MAY, 18 82. 



[No. 65. 



ON THE HYBERNATION OF THE DORMOUSE.* 



By A. Rabus. 



In July, 1879, I received from London two dormice (Muscar- 

 dinus avellanarius), the one a male of about a year old, the other 

 a female of a few weeks. I at once commenced to observe them 

 closely and carefully, and learnt with certainty many facts hitherto 

 little known, and possessing much interest, especially with regard to 

 the increase and decrease in the weight of these animals during 

 their winter sleep. The two mice were sent over to Germany in 

 one cage, and in consequence of this the male had badly bitten 

 the tail of the female, so that about three weeks passed before it 

 quite healed. In the meantime both mice grew well and quickly. 



I keep them separately in a little wooden cage with wires, in 

 which they make their nests of wool and tow, and continue to 

 give them materials for this purpose, until they leave off dragging 

 any more into their hole. Thus they have the nests made 

 entirely to their liking. At the commencement of their winter 

 sleep I strew a little insect-powder at the bottom of each nest to 

 guard against insects or mites. The little cages, their separate 

 sleeping places, stand together in one large bird-cage, into which 

 the mice can go out at will to fetch their food and take exercise. 

 At night they generally climb into the top of the cage, or sit and 

 eat on their wooden boxes; but always draw back timidly if 



:;: 'Beitrage zur Kenntnis iiber den Winterschlaf der Siebenschlafer ' ; 

 von A. Rabus, "Der Zoologiscbe Garten," 1881, pp. 821-325. 



