4 6 QUADRUPEDS. [ Clafs I. 
part of the time ; retiring into their holes at 
the firft approach of winter, roll themfelves 
up, and lie almofl: torpid the greateft part of 
that gloomy feafon. In that fpace, they fome- 
times experience a fhort revival, in a warm 
funny day; when they take a little food, and 
then relapfe into their former ftate. 
The fize of the dormoufe, is equal to that 
of a moufe ; but has a plumper appearance, 
and the nofe is more blunt; the eyes are 
large, black, and prominent; the ears broad, 
rounded, thin, and femi-tranfparent: the fore^ 
feet are furnifhed with four toes ; the hind 
feet with five; but the interior toes of the 
hind feet are deftitute of nails : the tail is a- 
bout two inches and a half long, clolely co¬ 
vered on every fide with hair : the head, back, 
fides, belly, and tail, are of a tawny red co¬ 
lor ; the throat white. 
Thefe animals feldom appear far from their 
retreats; or in any open place; for which 
reafon they feem lefs common in England than 
they really are. They make their nefts of 
grafs, mofs, and dead leaves; and bring ufually 
three or four young at a time. 
GENUS XVI. The RAT. 
SPECIES I. The common RAT. 
Mus domefticus major, feuRattus. 
Rail fyn. quad. 217. 
Meyer's an. 2. Tab. 83. 
Gefner quad. 731. 
Mus cauda longiffima obfcure ci- 
nereus. Brijfon quad. 168. 
Buffon. Tom. 7- p. 278. Tab • 36. 
Mus rattus. Lin. JyJi 63. 
Mus cauda longa fubunda corpore 
fufco cinerelcente. Faun. fuec. 
: 28. 
Mus Rattus, mus ciftrinarius. 
Klein quad. 57. 
Britijh , Llygoden ffrengig 
French , Rat 
Italian , Ratto, Sorcio 
Spanijh , Raton, Rata 
» r . ' 
Portug. Rato 
>N A M E S 
German y Ratz 
* Dutch, Rotte 
Swedijhy Rotta 
^""1 ^ ^ E rat is the moft pernicious of 
any of our lefier quadrupeds : our 
meat, corn, paper, cloaths, furni¬ 
ture, in Ihort every conveniency of life is a 
prey to this deftru&ive creature : nor does it 
confine itfelf to thefe ; but will make equal 
havoke among our poultry, rabbets, or young 
game. Unfortunately for us it is a domeftic 
animal, always refiding in houfes, barns, or 
grainaries; and nature has furnifhed it with 
fore-teeth, of fuch ftrength, as enable it to 
force its way through the hardeft wood, or 
oldeft morter. It makes a lodge, either for 
its days refidence, or for a neft for its young, 
near a chimny ; and improves the warmth of 
it, by forming there a magazine of wool, bits 
of cloth, hay or ftraw. It breeds frequently 
in the year, and brings about fix or feven 
young 
