THE CAFFRE BROAD-EAEED KAT. 



73 



born blind and naked, but in eig:ht or nine days their 

 eyes are opened : they grow rapidly, and in about a fort- 

 night begin to dig small burrows, each making its own. 

 The female has several litters in the course of the year. 

 About the middle of October, the hamster retires for 

 good to its retreat, stopping up first the creeping-holes, 

 then the plunging-holes ; — after this the animal keeps 

 awake (though underground) for about two months, 

 living on its store, and becoming very fat. When the 

 cold of winter has fairly set in and reached it, it sinks 

 into a complete state of torpor, which continues till the 

 middle of February. About the middle of March it 

 begins to open its passage and re-visits the fields : it now 

 abandons its old burrow, and begins to form a new one. 

 The flesh of the hamster is said to be very good ; the 



42.— Teeth of Caffre liroad-eared Rat. 



