THE HAMSTERS AND WHITE-FOOTED MICE 



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inches are taken up by the tapering hairy tail. It is stoutly built, with a thick neck, 

 a rather pointed muzzle, medium-sized membranous ears, large and brilliant eyes, 

 short legs, and small claws. The thick, glossy coat is composed of hair and a woolly 

 under-fur. The general color of the upper parts is usually light brownish yellow, 

 but the upper surface of the snout and the region of the eyes, as well as a band 

 round the throat, are reddish brown. There is a yellow patch on the back, 

 the mouth is whitish, and the under parts, the greater portion of the legs, and 

 a stripe on the forehead are deep black, but the feet are white. There is, however, 



THE HAMSTER. 

 (One-third natural size. ) 



great individual variation with regard to color, many examples being entirely black, 

 while others are pied, and others, again, wholly white. 



The hamster inhabits suitable localities from the Rhine in Germany to the Obi 

 in Siberia, but its distribution is somewhat partial. In Germany it is wanting in 

 the south and southwestern districts, and also in East and West Prussia, but it 

 is abundant in Thuringia and Saxony. Its favorite haunts are in soft dry soils, but 

 it avoids those of a sandy nature as being unsuitable for- its burrows, although 

 it will sometimes select gravelly ground. 



The hamster has always attracted a considerable amount of interest, from the 

 elaborate structure of its burrows, and the provident nature of its habits. The 



