Curass I. D7O2 RIM) OAUR SE; TEL 
Dormice inhabit woods, or very thick hedges; Manners. 
forming their nefts in the hollow of fome low tree, 
or near the bottom of a clofe fhrub: as they want 
much of the fprightlinefs of the fquirrel, they ne- 
ver afpire to the tops of trees; or, like it, at- 
tempt to bound from fpray to fpray: like the fquir- 
rel they form little magazines of nuts, ce. for 
winter provifion; and take their food in the fame 
manner, and fame upright pofture. The con- 
fumption of their hoard during the rigor of the 
feafon is but fmali: for they fleep moft part of the 
time; retiring into their holes at the firft approach 
of winter, they roll themfelves up, and lie almoft 
torpid the ereateft part of that gloomy feafon. In 
that fpace, they fometimes experience a fhort revi- 
val, in a warm funny day; when they take a little 
food, ‘and then relapfe into their former ftate. 
The fize of the dormoufe is equal to that of a Descrre. 
moufe; but has a plumper appearance, and the 
nofe is more blunt; the eyes are large, black, 
and prominent ; the ears are broad, rounded, thin, 
and femi-tranfparent: the fore-feet are furnifhed 
with four toes; the hind-feet with five; but the 
interior toes of the hind-feet are deftitute of nails - 
the tail is about two inches and a half long, 
clofely covered on every fide with hair: the head, 
back, fides, belly, and tail, are of a tawny red co- 
lor; the throat white. : 
Thefe animals feldom appear far from their re- Nasr. 
treats, or in any open place; for which reafon they 
I4 feem 
