Difference between revisions of "Dormouse"
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[[Image:dormice.jpg|right|250px|thumb]] | [[Image:dormice.jpg|right|250px|thumb]] | ||
| − | The '''dormouse''' (Muscardinus Avellanarius) is an [[arboreal]] mammal that, although once common, is now an endangered species in the [[British Isles]]. Similar in | + | The '''dormouse''' (Muscardinus Avellanarius) is an [[arboreal]] mammal that, although once common, is now an endangered species in the [[British Isles]]. Similar in appearance to the common mouse, dormice have long bushy tails used to assist in climbing trees, and live primarily on [[hazel]] nuts and other seed based foodstuffs{{fact}}. |
| − | [[Lewis Carroll]], the writer included a dormouse in the [[Alice in Wonderland]] stories and portrayed it as a fat lazy creature. This is not far from the truth as the dormouse (named from the Latin ''Dormeus'' or "sleepy one") spends more than three quarters of its life asleep. | + | [[Lewis Carroll]], the writer, included a dormouse in the [[Alice in Wonderland]] stories and portrayed it as a fat lazy creature. This is not far from the truth as the dormouse (named from the Latin ''Dormeus'' or "sleepy one") spends more than three quarters of its life asleep {{fact}}. |
Due to the human destruction of its traditional habitats, the dormouse is in decline. This has become a particular problem in certain [[British]] towns such as [[Hebden Bridge]] and [[York]] where basted, baked stuffed dormouse (normally stuffed with sage and leek) is something of a popular foodstuff. Hebden Bridge locals have experimented using water [[vole]]s from their famous [[canals]] in place of dormice whereas York residents have attempted to use the far more ubiquitous [[rat]] (rattus rattus) in the local dish "spoogie" (the name given to baked, seasoned dormouse ). This practice may have a long pedigree: excavations at [[Housesteads]] and [[Vindolanda]] [[Roman]] forts on [[Hadrian's Wall]] have uncovered huge numbers of dormouse bones, both within the forts themselves and in the civilian settlements adjacent. Distribution patterns suggest that certain premises may have served as dormouse 'take-aways' (shops serving ready-cooked food). | Due to the human destruction of its traditional habitats, the dormouse is in decline. This has become a particular problem in certain [[British]] towns such as [[Hebden Bridge]] and [[York]] where basted, baked stuffed dormouse (normally stuffed with sage and leek) is something of a popular foodstuff. Hebden Bridge locals have experimented using water [[vole]]s from their famous [[canals]] in place of dormice whereas York residents have attempted to use the far more ubiquitous [[rat]] (rattus rattus) in the local dish "spoogie" (the name given to baked, seasoned dormouse ). This practice may have a long pedigree: excavations at [[Housesteads]] and [[Vindolanda]] [[Roman]] forts on [[Hadrian's Wall]] have uncovered huge numbers of dormouse bones, both within the forts themselves and in the civilian settlements adjacent. Distribution patterns suggest that certain premises may have served as dormouse 'take-aways' (shops serving ready-cooked food). | ||
[[Category:Meat]] [[Category:Rodents]] | [[Category:Meat]] [[Category:Rodents]] | ||
Revision as of 21:47, May 15, 2007
The dormouse (Muscardinus Avellanarius) is an arboreal mammal that, although once common, is now an endangered species in the British Isles. Similar in appearance to the common mouse, dormice have long bushy tails used to assist in climbing trees, and live primarily on hazel nuts and other seed based foodstuffs[Citation Needed].
Lewis Carroll, the writer, included a dormouse in the Alice in Wonderland stories and portrayed it as a fat lazy creature. This is not far from the truth as the dormouse (named from the Latin Dormeus or "sleepy one") spends more than three quarters of its life asleep[Citation Needed].
Due to the human destruction of its traditional habitats, the dormouse is in decline. This has become a particular problem in certain British towns such as Hebden Bridge and York where basted, baked stuffed dormouse (normally stuffed with sage and leek) is something of a popular foodstuff. Hebden Bridge locals have experimented using water voles from their famous canals in place of dormice whereas York residents have attempted to use the far more ubiquitous rat (rattus rattus) in the local dish "spoogie" (the name given to baked, seasoned dormouse ). This practice may have a long pedigree: excavations at Housesteads and Vindolanda Roman forts on Hadrian's Wall have uncovered huge numbers of dormouse bones, both within the forts themselves and in the civilian settlements adjacent. Distribution patterns suggest that certain premises may have served as dormouse 'take-aways' (shops serving ready-cooked food).