THE HAMSTER. 209 



Food Magazines, &c. 



shews so little affection for her young, that if any 

 person dig into the hole, she attempts to make 

 her own escape by burrowing deeper into the 

 earth, leaving them to the mercy of the invader. 



Hamsters have been sometimes known to eat 

 flesh ; but their favourite food consists of grain, 

 herbs, and roots. Their pace is remarkably slow; 

 but they perform the operation of burrowing 

 in the ground with great agility. Not being 

 formed for long journeys, their magazines are 

 first stocked with such provisions as are most 

 contiguous to their abode; which accounts for 

 some of their chambers being rilled with only 

 one species of grain. After the harvest is reap- 

 ed, they are compelled to go to greater distances 

 in search of provisions, and carry to their store- 

 houses whatever eatables they can lay hold of. 



The pouches in their cheeks se^m provided by 

 nature to facilitate the transportation of food to 

 their magazines. These, in the inside, are fur- 

 nished with several glands; which secrete a cer- 

 tain fluid, that preserves the flexibility of the 

 parts. They are each capable of containing 

 about two ounces of grain; which the animal 

 empties into its granary, by pressing its two fore- 

 feet against its cheeks. When its cheeks are 

 full, it may be caught with the hand, without 

 danger ; as it has not, in this condition, the free 

 motion of its jaws. The quantity of provision 

 found in their burrows, depends on the age or 

 sex of the inhabitants. The old hamsters fre- 

 2 D 2 



