DORMICE. 177 



This beautiful little animal, with its prominent black eyes, 

 has a rather large head, a pointed muzzle, and rounded ears, 

 which are equal to about one-third of the head in length. 

 Both fore- and hind-feet are adapted for grasping, and although 

 in the former the iirst toe, as in the Squirrel, is rudimentary, 

 in the hind-foot all five toes are well developed. 



Distribution. — The Common Dormouse is distributed over 

 the greater part of Europe, although not apparently ranging 

 any distance into Northern Asia, even if it occurs there at all, 

 and is the only British representative of the Family. In many 

 continental countries the Fat Dormouse, or " Loire " {Myoxus 

 git's), is, however, much more abiindant than the present species, 

 which is known in France as the " Loirot." Generally found in 

 woods, plantations, or hedge-rows, but occasionally met with in 

 open fields, the Dormouse appears to be spread over the southern 

 and central districts of England, although much more abun- 

 dant in some localities than others. In the writer's experience, 

 one of the districts where it may be found in great numbers 

 is the country on the borders of Hertfordshire and Bucking- 

 hamshire, between Hemel-Hempsted and Aylesbury, where one 

 or more nests are almost sure to be met with, even in the 

 open country, during a day's shooting. In the Lake district, 

 according to the Rev. H. A. Macpherson, it occurs locally in 

 the more thickly-planted portions of the country, but has not 

 been detected in the eastern parts of Cumberland and West- 

 moreland. In Scotland, certainly so far as the north is con- 

 cerned, it appears to be unknown, and it is also stated by 

 Thompson to be wanting in Ireland. 



Habits. — Deriving its specific name from its fondness for 

 hazel-nuts, the Dormouse is especially partial to oak-woods 

 with an undergrowth of hazels. In the stumps of the latter its 

 winter-nest is very generally made, although; as already said, 



