GILT-TAILED DORMOUSE. 
IHE Dormouse is a distin6l tribe, or genu,^, 
of animals, of an intermediate class, between 
the Squirrel and the Rat or Mouse. The\" 
are characterized, by having two cutting teeth 
in each jaw; four toes on their fore feet, and 
five on their hind feet ; thin naked ears ; and a 
long tail covered with hair. Though there 
are but eight or nine known species, or varie- 
ties, in all; some of them are denominated, 
by naturalists, after the squirrel affinity, and 
others after that of the mouse. 
. Buffon, who treats of these animals mucli 
too generally, comprehends them all under 
the class of w hat he calls Fat Squirrels. *' \\'c 
have," says he, " three species of this animal i 
the Fat Squirrel, the Garden Squirrel, and the 
Dormouse; which, like the Marmot, sleep du- 
ring the winter. Of these, the Fat Squirrel is 
the largest, and the Dormouse the least. Se- 
veral authors have confounded these three 
species, though tlicy arc easily dinlnguishable. 
