THE COMMON DORMOUSE 



of its distribution has been given by Mr. G. T. Rope in the Zoologist, 

 June 1885. 



I have found it abundant in the neighbourhood of Godalming in 

 Surrey, where the numerous copses of hazel-nut, shady hedgerows and 

 similar cover seem specially suited to its habits. Mr. Millais in his work 

 on our Mammals has pointed out the " great similarity in the habitat of 

 this animal and the nightingale. Both frequent forest edges but seem to 

 shun the solitude of the forest itself." 



Having fattened on the autumnal harvest of nuts, the Dormouse lays 

 by a store for the winter and retires to its nest about the latter part of 

 October, when curling itself into a ball, with the tail wrapping the head 

 and body, it falls into a deep slumber which lasts with a few short 

 intervals of partial activity till the following April. 



The winter nest, composed of dead grasses, leaves, and moss, is 

 variously placed, sometimes among roots or ivy-covered stumps of trees 

 close to the ground, sometimes in thickets of brambles, where the one 

 shown in the Plate was situated. I have seen it built near the top of 

 a haystack at some distance from the ground, and also in a clump of 

 bamboo, where the dead leaves of the plant had been used for the 

 fabric. 



A captive Dormouse which I once kept as a model, escaping in my 

 room, made a dormitory for itself in the canvas of a sketching umbrella, 

 where I found it fast asleep. 



Although apparently sluggish in temperament, the Dormouse at times 

 shows wonderful agility, leaping from branch to branch in a hedge in 

 a surprising manner, and catching hold of the twigs with great dexterity. 

 It is also good-tempered and seldom bites when handled. In habits 

 this animal is mostly nocturnal, though it will sometimes come out in 



daylight. 



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