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Dormouse and Nest

5 (65) of it as a treasury. Like many other the pangs of hunger. As the food of the hibernating animals, it collects a store of Dormouse consists chiefly of seeds and winter food, which generally consists of fruits, it could not find enough nourishnuts, grain and similar substances. These ment to support the body, and would, treasures are carefully hidden away in the therefore, perish of hunger but for the vicinity of the nest, and in the illustration stores which instinct had taught it to the animal is shown as eating a nut gather in the preceding autumn. which it has taken from one of its storehouses beneath the thick branch. In the illustration, the stag-beetle and the golden-crested wren have been intro- Now, while the animal hibernates or duced to show the comparative size of the dozes through the winter, the tissues of animals. The old Dormouse does not the body undergo scarcely any change, fear the beetle, and tranquilly pursues his even though no nutriment be taken. But meal, but the young one is rather disas soon as the creature resumes its ordi- turbed at the intrusion of the big black innary life, waste goes on, and it soon feels sect, and meditates a retreat into the nest.