188 ANIMALS OF THE 



to the different kinds of food among different 

 nations. Such as chiefly feed upon rancid oils 

 and putrid flesh, will often mistake the nature of 

 scents ; and, having been long used to ill smells, 

 will by habit consider them as perfumes. Be this 

 as it will, although these nations of northern 

 savages consider the musk rat as intolerably fetid, 

 they nevertheless regard it as very good eating ; 

 and, indeed, in this they imitate the epicures of 

 Europe very exactly, whose taste seldom relishes 

 a dish till the nose gives the strongest marks of 

 disapprobation. As to the rest, this animal a 

 good deal resembles the beaver in its habits and 

 disposition ; but, as its instincts are less powerful, 

 and its economy less exact, I will reserve for the 

 description of that animal a part of what may be 

 applicable to this. 



THE CRICETUS. 



THE Cricetus, or German Rat, which M. Buf- 

 fon calls the Hamster, greatly resembles the water 

 rat in its size, small eyes, and the shortness of its 

 tail. It differs in colour, being rather browner, 

 like the Norway rat, with the belly and legs of a 

 dirty yellow. But the marks by which it may be 

 distinguished from all others are two pouches, 

 like those of a baboon, on each side of its jaw, 

 under the skin, into which it can cram a large 

 quantity of provision. These bags are oblong, 

 and of the size, when filled, of a large walnut. 



