14 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THE GARDEN DORMOUSE, MYOXUS QUERCINUS. 

 By Dr. F. Helm.* 



Having repeatedly kept the Common Dormouse, Myoxus 

 avellanarius, in confinement, I resolved to make a similar experi- 

 ment with the so-called " Garden Dormouse," Myoxus quercinus, 

 and chance furthered my intentions. Some " berry-pickers," who 

 brought it to me, happened to capture one that had crept under 

 the roots of a tree trunk. I placed it temporarily in a bird-cage 

 made of wire, for want of a more suitable one ; but before I was 

 able to close the door properly, the Dormouse had made its way 

 out between the wires of the cage on to the table, from whence 

 jumping down, it ran across the room, and disappeared amongst 

 some fire-wood that was piled up in a corner. 



After fitting up another cage with crossed wires to prevent a 

 further escape of the Dormouse, the bottom being covered with 

 a layer of sand and hay, the wood was carefully removed, and the 

 Dormouse, which had kept quiet all the time, was caught once 

 more with a cloth thrown over it. Being put back into the cage, 

 it climbed about for awhile in a restless manner, but as soon 

 apparently as it had come to the conclusion that further escape 

 would be impossible, it began to nibble the kernels of nuts, and 

 lard, which were offered to it. In a short time it lost a good deal 

 of its original wildness, but never became quite tame, and never 

 tolerated being stroked or otherwise handled ; for when seized it 

 struggled hard, and even occasionally bit the hand, which it never 

 did under any other circumstances. Its bite, however, was not 

 more painful than that of any other mouse. 



Its usual food consisted of hemp-seed, nuts, and meat (espe- 

 cially lard), but it preferred biscuits and fruit. The presence of 

 strangers did not prevent it from feeding, taking the food it fancied 

 most out of the hand after a little while. Of nuts, which had not 

 been previously opened, it took little notice, seldom making an 

 attempt to gnaw the shell through, in which it never actually 

 succeeded. Possibly it did not consider this trouble necessary 

 on account of the plentiful supply of food lying about in the 



* Translated from the German of Dr. Helm, in 'Der Zoologische Garten' 

 for July, 1887, pp. 217—219. 



