THE DORMOUSE OR SLEEPER 365 



ham Pond, Sussex, in a very open situation in a bed of 

 withies, standing in reeds and water. A furze bush often 

 affords a convenient site, and in the Isle of Wight ivy-clothed 

 rocks or trees, and ricks, ^ are much sought after ; in other 

 localities, the vicinity of the climbing "old man's beard," ^ the 

 downy seeds of which make a warm lining in autumn, or a 

 dormitory may be formed entirely of them ; * which shows how 

 loosely these structures are held together. But the more usual 

 materials are dried grass, gathered green,* and moss, lined 

 with finer grass, or with warmer materials, such as sheep's 

 wool. In Shropshire, Mr Forrest ^ has examined scores of 

 nests all thus simply constructed. But near Shrewsbury the 

 same writer* finds them never far removed from a clump of 

 honeysuckle in autumn, when alone the dead bark can be 

 obtained in quantity. This often provides the only material, 

 long coarse strips externally, holding a lining of shreds ; 

 occasionally dead leaves are added, but no grass. Mr Cocks 

 found one which, although autumnal (22nd Sept. 1903), 

 was entirely composed of fresh green hazel leaves. The loose 

 weaving of the nests, and the fact observed '^ in captivity 

 that one can be put together in a single night, make it 

 possible that several may be built by each individual in a 

 season. 



For her young the female usually prepares a special nursery. 

 This resembles, in its materials and construction, the ordinary 

 summer dormitory, but is larger, the diameter being about 

 6 inches or more ; ^ it is often placed close to, although not 

 actually on, the ground ; and careless mothers may even use an 

 ordinary dormitory for a nursery. The separate retreat of the 

 old male is generally not far away. 



Dormice are sedentary, and probably monogamous 

 creatures ; being active only during the six months of plenty, 

 and laying up a store against their spring awakening, they 

 have no need to wander. Mr Steele Elliott watched two pairs 



' Capt. Henry Hadfield, in G. T. Rope, Zoologist, 1885, 202. 

 ''■ Clematis vitalba. ^ Adams, MS. 



* A common arrangement includes four layers, e.g. — (i) externally a few dead 

 leaves ; (2) grass ; (3) a double layer of bramble leaves ; (4) a lining of fine grass. 

 ' Zoologist, 1901, 69. ^ Journ. cit., 1902, 23. 



' Forrest ; Lataste. 8 Adams, MS. 



VOL. II, 2 A 2 



