168 



COMMON DORMOUSE. 



liness of the squirrel, they never aspire to the tops 

 of trees, or attempt to bound from spray to spray. 

 Like the squirrel, they form little magazines of 

 nuts, &c. for their winter provision, and take 

 their food in the same upright posture. The 

 consumption of their hoard during the rigour of 

 winter is but small, for they sleep most part of 

 the time, retiring into their holes on the ap- 

 proach of winter, and, rolling themselves up, lie 

 torpid during the greatest part of the gloomy sea- 

 son. Sometimes they experience a short revival 

 in a warm sunny day ; when they take a little 

 food, and then relapse into their former state. 



These animals seldom appear far from their re- 

 treats, or in any exposed situations ; for which 

 reason they seem less common in this country 

 than they really are. They make their nest of 

 grass, moss, and dead leaves. According to the 

 Count de Buffon it consists of interwoven herbs, 

 and is six inches in diameter, open only above, 

 and is situated between the branches of hazel and 

 brushwood. The number of young is generally 

 three or four. 



