LECTURE IIL 105 



The genus Myoxiis or Dormouse, Is principally- 

 distinguished from that of Squirrel by the form of 

 the tail, which is round or cylindric y not flattened 

 and spreading. The genus contains but few spe- 

 cies. The common Dormouse is too well known 

 to require any description. The chief or prin- 

 cipal species is the Glis of the ancient Romans, 

 which is the Fat Dormouse of Pennant, and is a 

 native of the South of Europe, living in the 

 manner of a Squirrel, but sleeping through the 

 winter. Its size is not very far short of that 

 of the common Squirrel, and its colour pale grey, 

 white beneath. 



The genus Miis or Mouse, under which, as we 

 have before observed, were once arranged a great 

 many animals now placed under different genera^ 

 is still extremely extensive ; comprehending all 

 the species of the Rat and Mouse tribe strictly 

 so called. Of these, the chief species known, 

 to our ancestors in this country was the black 

 Rat, now become a rare animal in comparison 

 with the brown Rat, introduced above a century 

 ago from the Eastern regions, and vulgarly called 

 the Norway Rat. It is at present the common 

 Rat of our own country, and has^ in a great de- 



