NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
241 
are, therefore, cutting down the dead and unsightly old furze to assist younger 
growth, and in addition are cutting circuitous paths here and there through it, 
which not only will make pleasant walks, but in case of fire will help to isolate 
the surrounding “ clumps.” Mr. Clarke’s correspondent must have seen the com- 
mencement of these operations, and jumped rather hastily to conclusions, and it 
will doubtless be good news to him (or her), as well as to all lovers of A^ature, 
to know that there is no intention on the part of the Board to do anything to 
destroy the rural nature of the ground, in fact, any such proposal would be 
strenuously opposed by every member. In conclusion, I may add that the only 
portion of the ground which is, or is likely to be, cultivated in any form, is a 
margin on each side of the central road, and this is only occupied by rhododen- 
drons and forest trees. 
Haywards Heath. A. R. Pannett. 
[We find in the misleading information which Mr. Pannett satisfactorily con- 
troverts, another illustration of the necessity of caution on the part of Selbornian 
enthusiasts. — Eu. N.N.~\ 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 
The Dormouse. — This little creature, which in truth is no mouse at all, but 
very nearly related to the common squirrel, is one of the prettiest of our British 
mammals. Its bright eyes, beautiful fur, and long hairy tail, combine to give it 
a most pleasing appearance. This being the case it is much sought after as a 
pet ; and I know of no animal which is better adapted to a life of captivity. It 
has little or no smell, its food is easily and inexpensively obtained, and altogether 
it gives about as little trouble as any pet I could name ; not so much even as a 
canary ! The only drawback to a dormouse as a pet is its nocturnal habits. It 
is seldom seen in the day, for in the early morning it retires to its nest, there to 
pass the hours of light in profound and unconscious slumber. Anyone seeing a 
dormouse for the first time, as he appears when taken from its nest in the day time, 
curled into a little ball of fur, with his hind paws over its ears, or perhaps just 
awakened and gazing sleepily about, would hardly credit what a jolly little fellow 
he is, when the shades of evening begin to fall and he comes out to feed 1 Ills 
nest, which is rather larger than a tennis ball, is a wonderful and beautiful struc- 
ture ; usually placed in the bottom of a hedge not far from the ground, it is com- 
posed of grass, and generally a few dead leaves interwoven, lined with fine shreds 
of dead grass. A hole is left in the side by way of a door, and altogether it is a 
very snug little affair. 
The male does not occupy the same nest as the female and young, but has one 
of his own, usually, I believe, at some little distance. The fur of the male is bright 
reddish chestnut above and lightish fawn-yellow beneath, with a whitish patch 
under the chin. The eyes are black and very prominent, and the tail is covered 
with long hairs, and is slightly tufted at the extremity. The female is generally 
lighter in colour, and not so red as her mate, also her tail is usually shorter. 
The young, which are blind and naked when born, are produced about the 
month of May. They are usually four in number. The teeth of the dormouse 
are beautifully adapted for boring the little round holes in the shells of the nuts, 
through which it extracts the kernel. Nuts and acorns form its chief food. In 
captivity it may be given a great variety of nuts and fruit, apples being a favourite. 
It drinks a large quantity of water, and should always have a liberal supply at 
hand or it will not live long. It is said that the dormouse, when unwell, makes a 
large, irregular hole in its nuts, instead of the small, round one which it makes 
when in health. The shells of the nuts should never be cracked for it, as this, 
though it may ignorantly be thought a kindness, is in reality a very cruel practice, 
as it takes away from the work of the teeth, which in common with those of other 
rodents grow at a very rapid rate, and would very soon become so long as entirely 
to deprive the poor creature of the power to use them, which would of course result 
in its death. In all cases where the dormouse is kept in captivity, as large a cage as- 
