THE HAMSTER 167 



that by accident had made its way into their 

 inclosure. 



But to return to our subject. One of the most 

 peculiar traits in my hamster's character was his 

 thorough fearlessness. He could not be terrified 

 by the most violent noises, and on trying the ex- 

 periment of firing a pistol (loaded with powder 

 only) near him, he looked up in my face with a 

 most stoical expression, as much as to say, " That's 

 no go, old fellow ! " This peculiarity of tempera- 

 ment I have found in all the specimens that have 

 come under my notice. My pet hamster being kept 

 in a warm room showed no disposition to hibernate, 

 though he increased prodigiously in fat, which he 

 has lost during the warm weather. On account of 

 the shortness of his legs the hamster is by no 

 means a rapid traveller, and it was a most amusing 

 sight to see mine, when toddling along at his best 

 pace, making prodigious efforts without much in- 

 crease of speed, the mass of his fat shaking like a 

 mould of jelly under the thick fur. He is now 

 alive and well, and begs to return his most grateful 

 thanks to the readers of LAND AND WATER for their 

 kind attention to these " short and simple annals " 

 in his history. 



