OEDEE OF EODENTIA. 



453 



from any inquisitive curiosity, during the time it is torpid, viz., 

 it envelopes itself in dry grass and moss, forming them into a 

 skilfully- constructed hollow ball, the centre of which it occupies. 



This genus has its representatives in Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

 The European species comprises the Dormouse proper, the Garden 

 Dormouse, and the Muscardine. 



The Dormouse proper (Fig. 186) is less in size than the Black 

 E.at ; while the Muscardine is not larger than a Mouse. 



These two species live in the forests of Central and Southern 

 Europe ; but the Garden Dormouse prefers the vicinity of in- 

 habited places. They often take up their abode in parks, gardens, 

 and vineyards, and make great havoc among the fruit trees. 



Fig. 187.— JerlMa-Eat (Gerbillus Burtoni). 



Jerhoa-Rat Genus. — These animals (Fig. 187) are a kind of 

 Rat having the hind legs much longer than the fore — a pecu- 

 liarity which causes them to have a particular mode of loco- 

 motion. The Jerboa-Rats neither walk nor run on the surface of 

 the ground, but move forwards by leaping. They inhabit the 

 plains of Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa, hollowing out bur- 

 rows in which they hoard up stores of corn. The size of these 

 animals varies between that of the Mouse and the Black Rat. 



With this genus we conclude the great family of Rats. We 

 have now to speak of another group of Rodents which resemble 



