Of the Nut-Mouse, Hasell-Mouse, or Fildburd Mouse.
THis beast is a kind of Sorex, and may be that which the Germans tearme Ein, gros haselmus, a great Hasell-mouse, so called because they feed vpon hasell-Nuts, and Filburds. The Flemings call it Ein Slaperat, that is a sleeping Rat, and therfore the French call it by the name Lerot, whereby also we haue shew∣ed already, they vnderstand a Dormouse.
Page 546For this sleepeth like that, and yet the flesh thereof is not good is to be eaten. The co∣lour of this Mouse is redde like the Hasell, and the quantity full as great as a Squirrell, or as a great Rat: vpon the backe and sides it is more like a Mouse, and vpon the head more red. His eares very great, and pilled without haire. The belly white, so also are his legs. The neather most of his taile towards the tip white. His Nostrils and feete reddish. The taile wholy rough, but most at the end with white haires.
The eyes very great hanging out of his head, and all blacke, so that there is not in them any appearance of white. The beard partly white, and partly blacke, both aboue and beneath his ears, and about his eies, and the vpper part of his taile next his body all [ 10] blacke. Vppon his forefeete hee hath foure clawes or distinct toes, for hee wanteth a Thombe. But vpon his hinderfeete he hath fiue, I meane vpon each seuerally. The outside of his hinder Legges, from the bending to the tip of his nails is altogether bald without haire. And the sauor of all this kind is like the smell of the vulgar Mice. They liue not onely in the earth, but also in trees which they climbe like Squirrils, and there∣fore make prouision of Nuttes and meate against the Winter, which they lodge in the earth.
The Countrymen finding in the Summer their caues and dens, do wisely forbeare to destroy them, knowing that they will bring into them the best Nuts and Fill-herds can bee gotten, and therefore at one side they sticke vppe a certaine long rod, by directi∣on [ 20] whereof in the Winter time they come and dig out the den, iustly taking from them both their life and store, because they haue vniustly gathred it together: Some haue eaten it, but they were deceiued, taking it for the Dormouse.
