If we had a tame dormouse, we think we should try and
provide it with materials which it might be induced to use for
the construction of a nest like that described. The dormice
we once had were kept in a cage made for dormice, wired at
one end, with a little compartment at the other boarded in,
the door of which was pulled up and pushed down at pleasure,
so that the little creatures could be shut into their bedroom
when the outer room was cleaned out. Even with this precau-
tion they were continually getting out of the cage, they were
such nimble little animals, and the whole house was often
searched in vain for the truants. At last, perhaps, they would
be found in the fold of a curtain or underneath the cushion of
a sofa. Sometimes a worse fate befell them, and they would
creep under the cushion of an arm-chair, and get crushed to
death, or be trodden under foot, or be squeezed under a door
in trying to escape. They sleep during the day and come out
in the evening, so that they must be provided with food as soon
as it grows dusk; and, if they have a large cage with sticks
placed across it, they will gambol about very merrily in the
open part of it as soon as night approaches. Their food should
be varied as much as possible; they will eat nuts and almonds,
peas and beans, canary seed, and various other grains; and
they are very fond of the milky juice of a dandelion or sow-
thistle. We used always to put a little tin pan of milk into
the cage every night, and they would often drink it all, espec-
ially when they had young ones. It is said that rabbits will be
hindered from devouring their young by providing them with
water, and that they would not eat them unless maddened by '
thirst or suffering from extreme hunger. Some dormice have
the same propensity to cannibalism; and, if this theory about
the rabbits be correct, it may apply also to the mother dor-
mouse which devours her young. We thought she did so when
alarmed for their safety, not being able to conceal them else-
where; but it would be well to provide her with a constant sup-
ply of water or milk when nursing. The milk is useful too in
DOMESTIC PETS. 231
furnishing the dormouse with animal food; out of doors it eats
insects. There are generally four or five young ones in a litter,
bom blind, but able to see in a few days, and they are soon
capable of taking care of themselves. The cage must, of
course, be kept perfectly clean, and the floor of the open part
should be sanded like a bird cage.
Mice. — White, grey-and-white, and brown-and-white mice
are sometimes kept in cages like those of the dormouse, and
they must be treated in the same manner. The common brown
mouse is said to be a more tractable and intelligent pet, and
to be easily tamed by patient kindness. We never heard a
mouse sing, but several instances are recorded of mice who
have learned to imitate the chirp and even the song of a
canary kept in the room in which they were; so that
it might be worth while to try to give such pets the bene-
fit of a musical education for the chance of their acquiring
so curious an accomplishment. The little harvest mouse, the
tiniest of British quadrpueds, has sometimes been kept in a
cage, and will grow tame enough to take its favorite food, flies
and other insects, from the hand.
Page 160
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
If we had a tame dormouse, we think we should try and provide it with materials which it might be induced to use for the construction of a nest like that described. The dormice we once had were kept in a cage made for dormice, wired at one end, with a little compartment at the other boarded in, the door of which was pulled up and pushed down at pleasure, so that the little creatures could be shut into their bedroom when the outer room was cleaned out. Even with this precaution they were continually getting out of the cage, they were such nimble little animals, and the whole house was often searched in vain for the truants. At last, perhaps, they would be found in the fold of a curtain or underneath the cushion of a sofa. Sometimes a worse fate befell them, and they would creep under the cushion of an arm-chair, and get crushed to death, or be trodden under foot, or be squeezed under a door in trying to escape. They sleep during the day and come out in the evening, so that they must be provided with food as soon as it grows dusk; and, if they have a large cage with sticks placed across it, they will gambol about very merrily in the open part of it as soon as night approaches. Their food should be varied as much as possible; they will eat nuts and almonds, peas and beans, canary seed, and various other grains; and they are very fond of the milky juice of a dandelion or sowthistle. We used always to put a little tin pan of milk into the cage every night, and they would often drink it all, especially when they had young ones. It is said that rabbits will be hindered from devouring their young by providing them with water, and that they would not eat them unless maddened by ' thirst or suffering from extreme hunger. Some dormice have the same propensity to cannibalism; and, if this theory about the rabbits be correct, it may apply also to the mother dormouse which devours her young. We thought she did so when alarmed for their safety, not being able to conceal them elsewhere; but it would be well to provide her with a constant supply of water or milk when nursing. The milk is useful too in
furnishing the dormouse with animal food; out of doors it eats insects. There are generally four or five young ones in a litter, bom blind, but able to see in a few days, and they are soon capable of taking care of themselves. The cage must, of course, be kept perfectly clean, and the floor of the open part should be sanded like a bird cage.
Mice. — White, grey-and-white, and brown-and-white mice are sometimes kept in cages like those of the dormouse, and they must be treated in the same manner. The common brown mouse is said to be a more tractable and intelligent pet, and to be easily tamed by patient kindness. We never heard a mouse sing, but several instances are recorded of mice who have learned to imitate the chirp and even the song of a canary kept in the room in which they were; so that it might be worth while to try to give such pets the benefit of a musical education for the chance of their acquiring so curious an accomplishment. The little harvest mouse, the tiniest of British quadrpueds, has sometimes been kept in a cage, and will grow tame enough to take its favorite food, flies and other insects, from the hand.