CIO NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Torpidity during winter. 



quently amass a hundred pounds weight; but 

 the females and the young are contented with a 

 much smaller quantity. 



Dr. Russel informs us, that on dissecting one 

 of these animals, he found the pouch, on each 

 side of its mouth, stuffed with young French 

 beans, arranged lengthways, so exactly and close 

 to each other, that it appeared strange by what 

 mechanism this had been effected ; for the mem- 

 brane which forms the pouch, though muscular, 

 is extremely thin, and the most expert fingers 

 could not have packed the beans in more regu- 

 lar order. When they were laid loose on the 

 table, they formed a heap three times the bulk 

 of the animal's body. 



At the approach of winter, the hamsters retire 

 to their subterraneous abodes, the entrances to 

 which they close up with great care. Here they 

 repose for some months ; and feed on their pro- 

 visions till the frost becomes severe, when they 

 sink into so complete a state of torpidity, that 

 neither respiration nor any kind of feeling is per- 

 ceptible. When dissected, however, in this situ- 

 ation, the heart may be seen slowly contracting 

 and dilating; the fat appears coagulated, and the 

 intestines are quite cold. When found in a 

 state of torpidity, the animal's head is bent under 

 its belly, between the two fore-legs, and the hind- 

 legs rest upon the muzzle. The eyes are closed } 

 and when the eye-lids are forced open, they in- 

 stantly shut again. The members are all stiff, 



