HAMSTER RAT. 97 



a great quantity during the autumn. Each hole 

 has two apertures ; the one descending obliquely, 

 and the other in a perpendicular direction, and it 

 is through this latter that the animal goes in and 

 out. The holes of the females, who never reside 

 with the males, are somewhat different in their 

 arrangement, and have more numerous passages. 

 The female breeds two or three times a year, pro- 

 ducing five or six, and sometimes as many as 

 sixteen or eighteen *. The growth of the young 

 is rapid, and they are soon able to provide for 

 themselves. 



The Hamster feeds on all kinds of herbs and 

 roots, as well as on grain, and even occasionally 



on the smaller animals. " In harvest time (savs 



\ / 



Mr. Allamand) he makes his excursions for pro- 

 vision, and carries every article he can find into 

 his granary. To facilitate the transportation of 

 his food, Nature has provided him with two 

 pouches in the inside of each cheek. On the 

 outside these pouches are membranous, smooth, 

 and shining, and in the inside are a great many 

 glands, which continually secrete a certain fluid, 

 to preserve their flexibility, and to enable them 

 to resist any accidents which may be occasion- 

 ed by the roughness or sharpness of particular 

 grains." 



On the approach of winter the Hamster retires 

 into his subterraneous abode, the entry of which 

 he shuts up with great care ; and thus remaining 



* Allamand's Buffon. 



v. ii. P. i. 7 



