394 THE DORMOUSE. 
examined. It is curious to observe how accurately 
they fill their abodes, lying in a coiled posture, 
their tails passing over the head, neck, and pretty 
much of the back, the fore legs being brought into 
apposition with the pelvis, and the hind feet with 
the shoulders. My specimens have generally seemed 
to me in tolerable plight, but how they can have 
fed through the winter is not clear, for 1 havenever 
heard of, or seen any store adjoining their dormitory. 
It seems moreover that very slight warmth restores 
them to activity and pursuit of food in their natural 
life, while in confinement if they are kept from 
cold, they will remain active through the greater 
part of the winter. On the whole therefore though 
it is quite certain that they are very impatient of 
cold, and do not come forth from their hybernacula 
permanently till the milder days of April, yet their 
sleep is not profound, and they are readily kept 
active by continuing them in a genial temperature. 
When I have had them brought to me in winter en- 
veloped in their nests, 1 have always found that 
by holding them (nests and contents) in my hand a 
minute, the animals would wake, and presently a 
squeaking note would follow, especially if I grasped 
rather tightly. Moreover on removing them from 
their bed, they very soon give signs of animation — 
and allow themselves to be aroused with little 
trouble ; besides warmth also, noise and movement 
near them will affect the soundness of their slumber, 
and then it is common to hear the same squeaking 
noise, which from being plaintive resembles greatly 
the ordinary note of the Creeper. I have further 
some suspicion that a plentiful provision of food 
may independently render their sleep unsound and 
light, for besides that domesticated dormice well 
fed are wakeful whether through food or warmth, 
or both, I remarked that three brought to me 
March 12th, 1835 were not equally drowsy, and 
