HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 359 



The Fat SQUIRREL 



is found in France and the fouthern parts of Europe. — 

 Its body is covered with foft hair, of an afh colour *, its 

 belly whitifli ; its ears thin and naked. It is about fix 

 inches long, and thicker than the common Squirrel. It 

 dwells chiefly in trees, leaps from bough to bough, feeds 

 on fruits and acorns, and lodges in the hollow of trees. 

 It remains in a torpid ftate during winter, and grows ve- 

 ry fat. 



It was confidered as a great delicacy among the Ro 

 mans, who had places conftructed on purpofe to keep 

 and feed them in, which they called gliraria. 



T,he Greater DORMOUSE, or 

 Garden SQUIRREL, 



is rather lefs than the laft-mentioned. Its eyes are fur- 

 rounded with a large black fpot, which reaches to the 

 ears ; its body is of a tawny colour ; its throat and belly 

 white, tinged with yellow ; its tail is long, and bufhy at 

 the end. 



It is common in the South of Europe, infefts gardens, 

 is particularly fond of peaches, and very deftructive to all 



kinds of fruit. It lodges in holes in the walls, and 



brings forth five or fix young at a time. 



It has a ftrong odour, like a Rat ; and, like the Fat 

 Squirrel, remains torpid during the winter. 



