26o AFRICAN GNAWERS 



perate parts of Europe and Asia ; two or three species occur in Africa. 

 They hve generally in cornfields, where they dig deep burrows with 

 numerous chambers, into which they can retreat to take their repose, 

 and in which they pass the winter, previously, however, taking care to 

 lay up a good store of provisions in some of the chambers of their 

 domicile. 



They are rather pretty little beasts, about ten inches long, with 

 bright, prominent, 1)lack eyes, short thin ears, and tapering hairy tail, 

 about two inches and a half in length. The fur, which is thick and 

 somewhat lustrous, is usually of a light yellowish-brown color above, 

 with the snout, the neighborhood of the eyes, and a band on the neck 

 reddish-brown, and a yellow spot on each cheek; the lower surface, 

 the greater part of the legs, and a band on the forehead are black, 

 and the feet white. Many varieties occur. The hamster is widely 

 distributed, ranging from the Rhine through Europe and Siberia, to 

 Obi; and in most localities where it occurs it appears in great num- 

 bers, and causes great injury to the crops. Its burrows are exceed- 

 ingly spacious, and consist of numerous passages and chambers. It is 

 stubborn and easily angered, and at the same time very courageous, 

 defending itself bravely against its enemies, and standing boldly on 

 the defensive the moment any danger appears to threaten it. Its 

 diet is by no means of a purely vegetable nature, for it will destroy 

 and devour all sorts of small animals that come in its way. Besides 

 the corn, which forms its chief winter provender, green herbage, peas 

 and beans and roots and fruits of various kinds are welcome articles 

 of diet, and in confinement it will eat almost anything. 



The hamsters pass the winter in their burrows in a torpid or 

 sleeping state, but waken up very early in the spring, generally in 

 March, but frequently in February. At first they do not open the 

 mouths of their burrows, but remain for a time subsisting on stores 

 laid up during the preceding autumn. The old males make their 

 appearance first, the females about a fortnight after them, the latter 

 about the beginning of April. They then set about making their 

 summer burrows which are not so deep or so complicated as the winter 

 dwellings. 



The Porcupine.— There are many animals which have been 

 provided by nature with some means of defence against their enemies, 



