68 EATS AND MICE. 



shaft. They gather in enormous quantities of grain during the autumn 

 for winter use. One rat will thus get away with a bushel or rnore of 

 grain, and, when it is considered that in some districts burrows occur 

 every few yards, it will be realised what a pest these creatures may 

 become. I have known of poor peasants' making a living by digging 

 up these graneries. The Chinese name "Pan ts'ang" has reference 

 to this habit, "ts'ang" meaning a store. The giant hamsters are of 

 a pretty grey colour, and are equal in size to the common rat. They 

 are very fierce and bite savagely. 



The other Chihli species is the striped hamster (Cricetidus griscns) 

 which is not more than four inches in length, and is characterized by 

 having a black stripe down the middle of the back. In shape it re- 

 sembles the giant hamster, though in colour it is the least bit browner, 

 and has softer, more glossy fur. In habits it is very similar to its 

 larger cousin. A subspecies of this form is found in Inner Mongolia, 

 being known as Cricetidus grisaus obscurus. 



In the hills and mountains of Shansi, Shensi and Eastern Kansu 

 a third species {Cricctulus andersoni) exists. It was discovered by 

 Anderson, whiose name it bears, in 1907. It is greyer than C. griscus, 

 and is without the black stripe. Its tail is longer, but in shape, 

 size and habits the two species are alike. It is extremely common. 



The two remaining hamsters differ from these five forms in hav- 

 ing furry-soled feet, very short tails and unusually long whiskers. 

 Of these the one found in the Ordos Desert is perhaps the most re- 

 markable. This is an extremely elegant little creature, of a pinky- 

 buff colour above and pure white beneath. It was discovered by Ander- 

 son and myself in 1908, when it was named Cricetidus bcdfordioe 

 after the Duchess of Bedford. Subsequently it was placed in a new 

 genus Plwdopus by Dr. Gerrit S. INIiller of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 on account of the shape of the sole of the foot, the little lobes, noticeable 

 in all other mice, being coalesced into one ball. This hamster is an 

 inhabitant of the sand dunes of the Ordos Desert, and has also been 

 recorded from North-western Shansi. These pretty little creatures 

 make charming pets, being very easy to keep and naturally tame. 

 They have many amusing habits and ways. They will fill their cheek 

 pouches to bursting point with millet or grass seed, distorting the 

 shape of their bodies ludicrously. Then, when teased or disturbed, 

 thiey will push these pouches with their fore paws, causing the grain 

 to pour out of their mouths. They are scrupulously clean, performing 

 elaborate toilets at frequent intervals in their play, and being of a 

 docile disposition attempt neither to bite nor to run away. 



