480 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HAMSTER. 



of morning drives it back into its dark habitation. It is only 

 in dark and gloomy weather that the hamster is ever found 

 above ground whilst the sun is fairly above the horizon. — 

 During these rambles the movements of the animal are com- 

 monly slow ; its digitigrade walk is uncouth and creeping, 

 almost like that of the hedge-hog, and its first object is to 

 procure grain and other vegetable food, wherewith to fill its 

 pouches. But as soon as it hears a noise, it raises itself up- 

 on its hind legs, and stands plantigrade, like a bear ; * and if 

 the object of its attention be some living prey, as a mouse, it 

 quickens its pace into a gallop, or " ventre-a-terre." Whilst 

 quietly walking about its occupations, it is sometimes heard 

 to utter a succession of short growling sounds ; but when ir- 

 ritated, even only by some noise, its voice is squeaking and 

 shrill, and in the height of passion it is not unlike that of a 

 pig when about to be killed. In collecting food, when the 

 fore-part of its pouches becomes filled, it strokes them back- 

 wards with its paws, to make room for a new supply. It does 

 not thrash the ears with its paws, as has been advanced, but 

 picks them very dexterously with its teeth, whilst holding 

 them between its fore paws. When the pouches of the ham- 

 ster are full, the animal walks home, to add their contents to 

 its store. When surprised on its way by an enemy, it emp- 

 ties its pouches by quickly striking that region with its fore 

 paws, whereby the corn is projected to the distance of a few 

 feet, whereupon it is ready to fight. When the pouches are 

 full it cannot fight. 



Food. — The hamster, like several of the rodents, is omni- 

 vorous, but it is more so than any other. Its vegetable diet, 

 during the summer, consists of green fodder of very different 

 descriptions, especially Medicago sativa, and other species of 

 that genus, Hedysarum Onobrychis, the different common 

 species of Vicia, Lathyrus, Convolvulus, Veronica, Potentil- 

 la anserina, Papaver Rhceas and Argemone, Alsine media, 

 salads, cabbages, &c. — these are also found in their burrows 

 at that season. Roots or bulbs are never met with there, al- 

 though the hamster will readily eat carrots, turnips, potatoes, 

 Sac, as well as fruit, in captivity. In autumn and winter the 

 vegetable food of the hamster consists exclusively of seeds, 

 as rye, wheat, oats, barley, peas, vetches, horse-beans, millet, 

 &c. and these are stored up for hybernation. Notwithstand- 

 ing this great variety of vegetable food with which nature and 



1 In this posture the hamster will stand five minutes or longer, staring 

 attentively, but with a very stupid expression, at some object before him, 

 for instance, the flame of a candle. One of the fore paws then generally 

 hangs down lower than the other. 



