. The popular natural history . Zoology. '52 THE DORMOUSE. the Dormouse retires into its nest, and there slumbers throughout the entire winter, waking up for a short period whenever a milder temperature breaks the severity of the frost, and, after taking a little nourishment, sinking again into its former lethargy. The Dormouse is rather gregarious in its habits, so that whenever one nest is discovered several others may generally be found at no great distance. These nests are of considerable dimensions, being about six inches in diameter, and are composed of grass, leaves, and similar substan
. The popular natural history . Zoology. '52 THE DORMOUSE. the Dormouse retires into its nest, and there slumbers throughout the entire winter, waking up for a short period whenever a milder temperature breaks the severity of the frost, and, after taking a little nourishment, sinking again into its former lethargy. The Dormouse is rather gregarious in its habits, so that whenever one nest is discovered several others may generally be found at no great distance. These nests are of considerable dimensions, being about six inches in diameter, and are composed of grass, leaves, and similar substances. The en- trance to the nest is at the side. The young animals are gener- ally three or four in number at a birth, and make their appear- ance about the end of spring or the beginning of summer. It is probable that there may be a second brood towards the end of autumn, as Mr. Bell received from one locality in the month of September one half-grown Dormouse, which had evidently been born in the spring, and three very little specimens, which were apparently not more than a week or two old. They are born blind, but are able to see in a very few days, and in a remark- ably short space of time become independent of their parents. The beautiful and active group of animals of which our English Squirrel is so familiar an example, a:-e found in almost every portion of the globe, and, with one or two exceptions, live almost exclusively among the branches of trees. In order to enable them to maintain a firm clasp upon the branches and bark, they are furnished with long finger-like toes upon the fore-feet, which are armed with sharp curved claws. In the Flying Squirrels, of which the Taguan is a good example, the skin of the flanks is modified in a method similar to that which has alreadv been noticed in the Petaurists. The skin is so largely developed, that when the animal is sitting at its ease, its paws but just appear from under the soft folds of the delicate and fur- clad membrane.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
