474 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HAMSTER. 



tint (greyish brown) on the upper part of the body, in the 

 common variety. 1 



3. The buccal pouches, which the German marmot has in 

 common with but few animals, and which in it are compara- 

 tively larger than in any other. 



4. Its subterranean habits, which besides present many cu- 

 rious peculiarities. 



5. Its hybernation. And 



6. Its moral disposition, especially the courage in defend- 

 ing itself, which it has in common with the badger ; and its 

 ferocity in devouring its congeners, which it has in common 

 with the mole. 



Synonyms. — Both the zoologist, and the more general ama- 

 teurs of knowledge, may, in many instances, feel interested 

 in knowing the different names which apply to the same ani- 

 mal in different countries or writings. These synonyms often 

 clearly indicate the localities where the creature is indigenous, 

 and where it is not so. Such as German marmot, or marmotte 

 de Strassbourg, will at once show, that our animal is origi- 

 nally neither found in England, nor in France proper. In the 

 latter country it was once even exhibited in a strolling mena- 

 gery, under the curious name of " un animal sauvage d'Alle- 

 magne, nomme, 'Fruges consumere nati.' " The German 

 name ' hamster ' has found its way into the Scandinavian (as 

 also into the Dutch) languages ; and the great Linnaeus pro- 

 cured his first specimens from an illiterate herbalist, named 

 Dietrich, residing at a little village called Ziegenhain, near 

 Jena, whom Linnaeus took for a member of the university, 

 when he wrote to him, — " Mittas mihi, quseso, animal Ham- 

 ster dictum." As to the true vernacular names of the German 

 marmot, we may distinguish two sets, viz., those which are 

 an imitation of the yelling sound uttered by the animal when 

 irritated; as Krictsch, Germ.; Krziczieti, Illyr.; Skrzeczeck, 

 Pol.; Sskrecek, Boh.; Schurks, Serb.; Gringie,llxmg.; Sur- 

 ka ? Tartar ; the Latin name of Cricetus, which Albertus 

 Magnus appears to have first used, is perhaps derived from 



1 This feature would stand quite isolated among all our indigenous quad- 

 rupeds, but for its existence in the badger, which coincidence, in my opin- 

 ion, deserves the attention of the physiologist, as both these species are 

 crepuscular, winter-sleepers, and live underground. The cause of this pe- 

 culiar coloration in these two animals, may perhaps he traced to some ge- 

 neral law of nature, the more so as the mole, which is strictly subterraneous, 

 is altogether black, although the exclusion of light be, in general, a hin- 

 drance to the development of pigments. Also in the German marmot, 

 there is a great tendency to become black all over the body, and the black 

 variety is extremely common in some localities, whereas albinoes have been 

 met with only in a few instances. 



