‘ Mr. F. H. Birley, of East Grinstead, where he says he often finds the nests
in bushes, discovered the nest of a Dormouse in a woodpecker’s hole in an oak.
Two Dormice came out of the nest and ran up the trunk.’ 1
‘ Mr. E . P. Larkin found a Dormouse nest in the nest of a blackbird in a
garden at Reigate.’ 2 And I have known them make use of artificial nesting-
boxes placed in trees to attract birds.
I have found the nests high up in the ivy clinging to a large oak, and
several times high up in a thorn tree, but always more or less concealed. In
June 1903 I found two nests of the Dormouse in a bed of withies at Warnham
Pond. They were placed in a very open situation, and could easily be seen by
passers-by. Underneath were reeds and water, and it was altogether a curious
situation for the nest of this animal. Mr. Frohawk tells me of an equally curious
nesting site, namely, the top of a post amongst palings, and in full view of a
high road.
The Dormouse, sitting on its haunches, feeds in the same way as the squirrel:
it can suspend itself by the hind feet, and feed quite comfortably in this awkward
position.
I have found them very partial to apples, grapes, and nuts of various kinds.
In cool, damp weather they move about in the day time, but on hot or cold days
they remain hidden in their sleeping place until the evening, when they emerge
to pack themselves with food and then again quickly retire. During thunder
they become sluggish and disinclined to move, and are most active and playful
during the first warm days of spring.
Dormice in confinement have been known to eat aphides^ nut-weevils, and
various kinds of caterpillars. Of their manner of eating Barcelona nuts Mr. L.
Adams writes to me:
‘ Dormice almost invariably begin to gnaw the nut at the edge of the rough
circular patch, and then extend the hole down the side. The percentage of nuts
gnawed in this way I found to be ninety-three. This is no doubt the most suitable
point of commencement, as the edge of the circular patch is more fibrous and
softer, thus giving a leverage which the smooth side of the nut would not afford.
My Dormice refused to attempt walnuts.’ They will eat cherries8 and other fruit.
Dr. Helm4 says he found they liked hemp-seed, nuts, and meat (especially
lard), and two that I kept for a year preferred acorns, nuts, apples, and a piece of
bacon fat now and again. I think their taste for flesh is just as well developed
1 Zoologist, 1887, p. 69. 2 Ibid. 1887, p. 106. 3 Field, 1901, p. 39. 4 Zoologist, January 1888, p. 14.