the Dormouse, in zoology; a genus of quadrupeds belonging to the order of glires. There are two fore-teeth in each jaw; the upper ones cuneated, the under compressed; the whiskers are long; the tail is hairy and round, growing thicker towards the extremity; the fore and hind legs are of equal length, and the fore-feet have four toes.

1. The glis, or hoary dormouse, is of a pale ash-colour on the upper parts of the body, and whitish on the under; and is about the size of the common squirrel, but thicker in the body. It inhabits France and the south of Europe, and the south-west of Russia about the Volga of Samara. This animal, which is the theme of Aristotle, Musa of Oppian, and glis of Pliny, was held in great esteem among the Romans, as a luxurious delicacy; they were fed in places called gliraria, constructed for the purpose, and they are still eaten by the modern Italians. It forms a nest in the hollow of some tree, in which it lives all day; feeds in the night on nuts, walnuts, the seeds of apples, &c., and grows very fat in autumn. About the month of October they gather in troops; and, retiring into subterranean burrows, remain torpid till near the end of May. The female has ten teats, six of which are situated on the breast, and four on the belly; and she brings from nine to twelve young ones at a litter.

2. The nitella, or garden dormouse, is of a tawny colour on the upper parts of the body, and whitish ash-tinged with yellow on the under; has a black circle round each eye, and a black spot behind each ear; and is five inches long, besides the tail which measures four. It inhabits the south parts of Europe and Russia, where it lives chiefly in gardens, though it sometimes is found in housetops. They are very destructive to fruit, particularly peaches, which they seem to prefer to every other kind. They also eat pease, apricots, and plums; and when soft fruits are not to be had, they will eat almonds, filberts, nuts, and even leguminous plants. Of these they carry off great quantities into their retreats, which they dig in the earth, and particularly in well cultivated gardens; for in old orchards they are often found in hollow trees, where they make beds of herbs, moss, and leaves. Eight or ten of them are frequently found in the same place, all benumbed, and rolled up in the midst of their provision of fruits and nuts. They copulate in spring, and bring forth in summer. The litter consists of five or six young, who grow very quickly, but are not fertile till the next year. Their flesh is not eatable, but has the same disagreeable odour with the domestic rat.

3. The muscardinus, or common dormouse, is about the size of the domestic mouse, but of a plumper appearance; the nose is more blunt; the head, sides, belly, and tail, are of a tawny red colour, the throat white. Dormice inhabit woods, or very thick hedges; forming their nests in the hollow of some low tree, or near the bottom of a close shrub: they form little magazines of nuts, and eat in an upright posture like the squirrel. The consumption of their food, however, during the rigour of the season is but small; for they sleep most of the time, retiring into their holes; at the approach of winter they roll themselves up, and become torpid. Sometimes they experience a short revival in a warm sunny day, when they take a little food, and relapse into their former state. These animals seldom appear far from their retreats, or in any open place; for which reason they seem less common in Britain than they really are. They make their nests of moss, grass, and dead leaves; and bring usually three or four young at a time.