WEBBERS, GERBILLES, AND DORMICE 
only a few can be noted. One of the most unusual is the large 
webber or crested rat of the eastern half of that continent, 
whose long harsh hair forms a roach of bristles on the back and 
tail, so that the animal resembles a miniature porcupine. We 
know little of its habits ex- 
cept that in Arabia it sits 
upon its haunches and 
whistles, and climbs wild 
date palms to feed on the 
fruit. The deserts of Af- 
rica and Arabia are also 
the home of gerbilles of 
many species — small mice 
with jerboalike appearance 
and _ habits. 
' So distinct from the fore- 
going rats and mice as to 
constitute a separate family 
are the dormice, which in some of their many forms are 
found in Africa, Asia, and Europe, but not in America. Typi- 
cal of the group is the European dormouse, which is much like 
our whitefoot in habits and food, but is more nocturnal and 
looks like a miniature squirrel. An English correspondent, 
Mr. H. W. Shepheard-Walwyn, favors me with the following 
notes on this celebrated sleeper: — 
Shepheard-Walwyn, Phot. 
A HIBERNATING DORMOUSE, 
“ This quaint little animal spends some six months of the year wrapped 
in a profound sleep. Motionless — save for the rhythmical heaving of the 
furry body as it draws its deep, long breaths — the sleeper is by no means 
silent, inasmuch as its wee nostrils emit a terrific snoring, which can even 
be heard across a fair-sized room. The specimen here depicted included 
a small but shrill note in its somnolent wheeze, and the noise which it 
produced by this means was really tremendous, considering the diminutive 
size of the animal. Cold to the touch, and apparently lifeless, the little 
yellow body might, to all intents and purposes, be that of a cold-blooded - 
animal; and it has even been rolled about the room without attempting 
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