5°8 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
animals, having become very fat towards the end of autumn, it betakes itself to 
its retreat, and rolling itself up into a ball, falls into a state of torpidity, from 
which it is now and then aroused by an unusually mild day, when it partakes 
of its provisions, and relapses into its usual condition. The young are of a 
brownish-gray color, four or five in number. 
Mr. Salmon gives the following account of a dormouse : “As I was push¬ 
ing my way amidst the briars and brambles, I chanced to stumble upon an 
interesting incident, in the shape of a little ball of grass curiously interwoven, 
lying on the ground. It was about eight inches in circumference, and on 
taking it up 
I soon ascer¬ 
tained, by the 
faint sound 
emitted from 
its interior on 
my handling 
it, that it con¬ 
tained a pris¬ 
oner. I bore 
my prize 
homeward 
for examina¬ 
tion, and on 
my making a small opening, immediately issued 
forth one of those beautiful little creatures, a 
dormouse. The heat of my hand and the warmth 
of the room had completely revived it from its 
torpor; it appeared to enjoy its transition by 
nimbly scaling every part of the furniture in 
all directions. It experienced no difficulty in 
either ascending or descending the polished 
backs of the chairs, and, when I attempted to 
secure it, it leaped from chair to chair with 
astonishing agility for so small a creature. On 
taking it into my hand, it showed not the least 
disposition to resent the liberty; on the contrary, it was very docile. On being 
set at liberty, it sprang at least two yards on to a table. I was much gratified 
at witnessing its agile movements. In the evening I placed my little stranger, 
with its original domicile, in a box, of which, on the following morning, I found 
it had taken possession, and again relapsed into a state of torpidity.” 
The Rat is a well-known rodent, and is the type of the muridce or mouse- 
family, and the common hous z-rcit is a gift to America from the old world. 
The rat is distinguished by unfailing presence of mind, and by never- 
flagging readiness of resource. It is very sympathetic with its kind, and has 
been known to lead about a blind companion. A tame rat suffered so from 
separation from its companions, as to die seemingly from melancholy. In carry¬ 
ing off eggs, two methods seem to be in vogue. First, a rat will lie on its 
back, and holding an egg in its feet will allow itself to be used as a handcart 
by its companions. The second plan is to form in line, and pass the egg from rat 
