THE COMMON- DORMOUSE. 46Q 



lilce the Jerboas, they are assisted by their tails. 

 They feed entirely on vegetables, and eat only in 

 the night. In this act they sit upright, and carry 

 the food to their mouth with the paws. When they 

 are thirsty, they do not lap (like most other qua- 

 drupeds) ; but dip their fore-feet, with the toes bent^ 

 into the water, and drink from them *. 



They have two front-teeth in each jaw ; the upper 

 w^edge-shaped, the lower compressed ; and in each 

 jaw four grinders. The whiskers are long. The tail 

 is cylindrical, hairy, ajid thickest towards the end. 

 The fore and hind legs are of nearly equal length; 

 and the fore-feet have each four toes f . 



THE COMMON DORMOUSE I'. 



This animal is about the size of a Mouse; but more 

 plump or rounded ; and of a tawny red colour, with 

 a white throat and full black eyes. — It lives in woods, 

 or thick hedges ; forming its nest of grass, dried 

 leaves, or moss, in the hollow of son^.e low tree, or 

 near the bottom of a close shrub. 



The Dormice have not the sprightliness of the 

 Squirrel ; but, like that animal, they form little ma- 

 gazines of nuts, acorns, and other food, for -their 

 winter provision. The consumption of tjieir hoard, 

 during the rigour of winter, is but small; for, re- 

 tiring into their holes on the approach of the cold. 



* KeiT. i. '270. t Linn. (imi'I. i. UV>. 



X Synonyms. — Myoxus Miiscardinus. Liitn. G'/ii.v.7.-r-.Mus Avel- 

 anarliis. — L/nu. Si/st. Nai. ccl. xii — Dormouse, or Sleeper. Rci/f' — ' 

 IMuscardii). Buifja. — Shnxvs Gen. ZooL p!. liJU-^Bcxv. ^uad. S'io. 



H h 3 



