THE HAMSTER. 211 



Observations. 



and the body feels as cold as ice. In this state 

 the hamsters are frequently dug up by the pea- 

 santry; who employ much of their time in hunt- 

 ing for their retreats. These are easily known 

 by the small mounts of earth raised at the end of 

 the galleries; and the hoard, when discovered, 

 often consists of a bushel or a bushel and a half 

 of corn. 



The stupor of these animals has been supposed 

 to result entirely from a certain degree of cold; 

 but experience has proved, that to render them, 

 torpid, they must also be excluded from all com- 

 munication with the external air: for when one 

 of them is shut up in a cage filled with earth and 

 straw, and exposed in winter to a degree of cold 

 even sufficient to freeze water, he never becomes 

 so. But when the cage is sunk four or five feet 

 under ground, and well secured against the ac- 

 cess of air, at the end of eight or ten days he be- 

 comes as torpid as if he had been in his own 

 burrow. If the cage be brought up to the sur- 

 face, he will awake in a few hours ; but resumes 

 his torpid state when put below the earth again. 



The actions of the hamster, in passing from a 

 state of torpidity, are extremely singular. He 

 first loses the rigidity of his members ; and then 

 makes profound respirations, but at long inter- 

 vals. His legs begin to move; he opens his 

 mouth, and utters disagreeable and rattling 

 sounds. After continuing these operations for 

 some time, he opens his eyes, and endeavours t* 

 6 



