io8 
RODENTS. 
the limbs it is silvery-white; near the junction of the dark upper-parts with the 
white of the under surface the colour becomes greyish brown. The eyes are 
surrounded by dark rings, and the tip of the snout, as well as part of the throat, 
are white. The ears are moderate size, and rounded. 
This species is found in Southern and Eastern Europe, extending from Spain, 
Greece, and Italy, through South and Central Germany to Austria, Syria, and the 
south of Russia; it is unknown in Denmark and Scandinavia. 
In general habits this species closely resembles the common dormouse, but it 
generally lies concealed during the day in the hollow of a tree, the cleft of a rock, 
or the burrow of another rodent; and its breeding-nest is invariably concealed in 
some such situation, and is never built among the boughs of bushes like that of 
the English dormouse. In autumn it becomes still fatter than the latter; and in 
this state it was much esteemed as a delicacy by the ancient Romans. The period 
of hibernation, according to Brehm, generally endures for upwards of seven months; 
these animals rarely coming forth before the latter part of April. The young, 
which are sometimes born in the deserted nest of a starling, are usually from three 
to six in number; and although blind, naked, and helpless at birth, are remarkable 
for the rapidity with which they come to maturity. In addition to various nuts 
and berries, this dormouse consumes fruit, and is also said to devour small birds 
and other animals. In its turn, it is preyed upon by martens, polecats, stoats, and 
wild cats. Like the common species, the squirrel-tailed dormouse is easily 
domesticated; and during its period of activity forms an attractive little pet. 
The Tree- In Southern Russia, Hungary, lower Austria, and Siberia there 
Dormouse. j s a second species of dormouse (M. clryas ), nearly allied to the 
last, but of considerable smaller size, although larger than the garden dormouse. 
It is generally reddish brown above and white beneath (including the lower surface 
of the tail); and is easily recognised by the black line extending from near the 
nose through the eye to the root of the ear. The painted dormouse (M. pictus), 
of Eastern Persia, is a brighter coloured form closely allied to the above. 
The Garden The garden dormouse (M. nitela), which is represented on the 
Dormouse, right hand of the illustration on p. 107, is the European repre¬ 
sentative of a group of several species; distinguished from the preceding by the 
thinner and tufted tail, the larger and more pointed ears, and the characters of 
the cheek-teeth. These teeth are relatively small, and have their grinding 
surfaces concave, with the foldings of enamel very faintly marked. The group is 
represented in Africa as well as in Southern Europe. 
The garden dormouse was known to the ancient Romans as the nitela, and on 
the Continent at the present day is termed in France the lerot, and in Germany 
the gartenschldfer. It is smaller than the squirrel-tailed dormouse, although 
larger than the common species, the length of the head and body being at the most 
5^ inches, while the tail measures about inches. The head and upper-parts are 
greyish brown, with a more less marked rufous tinge, and the under-parts pure 
white. A black ring encircles the eye, and thence extends backwards as a streak 
beneath the ear to the neck; while there are dark and light spots behind and in 
front of the ears. The tail is greyish brown at the base, but at the end black above 
and white below. 
