ITS HYBERNATING HABITS. 
395 
that those which ate most were least so. But since 
in the domesticated state they experience both 
unacustomed warmth, and are usually supplied 
with a plenty of provender, it would not be possible 
save by experiment to determine the relative effects 
of these powers. In the autumn of 1835 I had a 
Dormouse given me which fed sumptuously every 
night on oats, apples, bread, grapes, &c. until 
November l*2th, when after an uncommonly warm 
season the cold of winter was first felt; after this 
however we had intervals of rather mild weather, 
and though his sleep so far as I could observe did 
not depend on, or was regulated by the temperature 
of the air, he would frequently come forth and feed 
largely, and again retire. Again towards the com¬ 
mencement of the following year, the weather 
became decidedly cold, and he now lay lethargic a 
whole month ; in February he roused and fed abun¬ 
dantly every night, and though he never after became 
thoroughly lethargic as before, he continued to repose 
however unsoundly through the greater part of April 
during the day time. 
One would naturally think therefore that if they 
are thus wakeful, generally light in their sleep, for 
the most part readily rendered active when awaken, 
and so susceptible to slight warmth during their 
hybernating season, they would not be found very 
impatient of cold ; such however is not the case. 
They do not quit their nests (except perhaps at 
times for the procurance of food) until the warmer 
days of April; one Was brought to me on April 27th 
of 1837 in a lethargic state, though the spring of 
that year was certainly unusually backward; it came 
out to feed on May 3rd, but was still impatient of 
cold, and habitually betook itself to the corner of the 
box huddling close up to two others in the same 
torpid condition. Mild intervals in the preceding 
Y y 2 
