^5 DORMOUSE. Clafs t 



or near the bottom of a clofe fhrub : as they want 

 much of the fprightlinefs of the fquirrel, they never 

 afpire to the tops of trees ; or, like it, attempt 

 to bound from fpray to fpray : like the fquirrel 

 they form httle magazines of nuts, (^c, for winter 

 provifion ; and take their food in the fame manner, 

 and fame upright poilure. The confumption of their 

 hoard during the rigor of the feafon is but fmall : for 

 they fleep mod part of the time ; retiring into their 

 holes at the firft approach of winter, they roll them- 

 felves up, and lie almoft torpid the greateft part of 

 that gloomy feafon. In that fpace,they fometimes ex- 

 perience a Ihort revival, 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 

 moufe •, but has a plumper appearance, and the nofe is 

 more blunt; the eyes are large, black, and prominent; 

 the ears broad, rounded, thin, and femi-tranfparent: 

 the forefeet 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 (ide with hair : ' 

 the head, back, fides, belly, and tail, are of a tawny 

 red color ; the throat white. 



Thefe animals feldom appear far from their retreats; 

 or in any open place -, for which reafon they feem lefs 

 common in England than ihey really are. They 

 make their nefts of grafs, mols, and dead leaves ; and 

 bring ufually three or four young at a time. 



Genus 



