Richard Starezek, age 13, of Utica. N.Y., for his questions

That is a dormouse'

The famous Alice dreamed her adventures in Wonderland, of course, while she was dozing. It is not surprising then that she should meet a furry little animal whose name means sleepy mouse. In real life, the dormouse is indeed a sleepyhead. He may live six years, but his entire waking time totals up to no more than a year and a half. He hibernates for six months of every year: During the summer season, when he is fairly active, he sleeps through the daylight hours.

Sad to say, the lazy little charmer is not a native of the New World. He and his cousins, however, are quite common in Europe, Asia and Africa   though seldom seen. In appearance, old Sleepyhead is much more like a squirrel than a mouse. He may be as big as the red squirrel and his soft, silky fur may be chestnut red, brown or hazel, He has a long, fur covered tail, small, round furry ears, a round blunt nose and, of course, a pair of bright but sleepy eyes.

The dormouse also resembles a squirrel in character. Unlike a real mouse, he is a vegetarian and most of his time is spent in trees. When possible, the main course on his diet includes nuts. He is fond of beechnuts, hazelnuts and acorns. For dessert he enjoys wild berries and, should someone adopt him as a pet, they will soon find that little Sleepyhead is very fond of apples.

Most of these foods can be stored for    the winter months, but this hard work does not appeal to the dormouse. When fall comes, he eats more than his usual ration and becomes very, very fat. This extra fat will supply his needs during the six months of hibernation. He may find a winter bed in a hollow tree or more likely in a deserted birds nest. Somehow he gets up enough energy to waterproof the nest with moss and pull a blanket of wadded moss over himself for warmth.

Mrs. Dormouse has two broods of babies during the summer season. At first the young are blind, naked and completely dependent upon mother's tender care. Soon they grow soft coats of fur and open their starry bright eyes. Then Mrs. Sleepyhead has troubles indeed: For young dormice are far more sprightly than their parents. They want to play when Mamma wants to doze, they stay awake and are frisky when she wants to go to sleep.

The youngsters become adults when they are a year and three months old. When the first winter arrives they are teenagers, not as mischievous as children and not settled as adults. They are wise enough to put on the necessary extra fat, but stay active, perhaps for several weeks after their parents have gone to their winter quarters. Perhaps this is because they are at an age when the world is so new and wonderful to them that they want to see and do everything at once.