434: 



VERTEBRATA. 











THE HAMSTER. 



Genus CRICETUS : Cricetus. — The animals of this genus greatly resemhle the true rats. The 

 most noted species is the European Hamster, C.frumentarius of Pallas. It is of a reddish-brown 

 color above; black below, with three large whitish spots on the sides; feet white; a white spot 

 on the throat, and another on the breast ; but variations in color are not uncommon, one variety 

 being black. The length is about nine inches ; tail three inches. It is supplied with ample 

 cheek-pouches, and is distributed over the most of Europe and Asia. 



The hamsters are serious pests to the farmers. The quantity of grain which they consume 

 is enormous, nor does the destruction stop with satiety of appetite ; they never forget their 

 hoards, and fill their two cheek-pouches till they seem bursting with the booty. They arc also 

 said to be very fond of the seeds of liquorice. Their dwellings are under the earth; their mode 

 of constructing them being as follows : They first form an entrance, burrowing down obliquely; 

 at the end of this passage one perpendicular hole is sunk by the male, the female sinking several: 

 at the end of these they excavate various vaults — some as lodges for themselves and young, and 

 some as storehouses for their food. Every young one is said to have its separate apartment: 

 each sort of grain its different vault. The "living apartments," as they may be called, are lined 

 with straw or grass. The vaults are said to be of different depths, according to the age of the 

 constructor : a young hamster, it is stated, makes one scarcely a foot deep, an old one sinks to the 

 depth of four or five feet. The whole structure is sometimes eight or ten feet in diameter. 



From the mode of proceeding in their work, the reader will be prepared for the statement that 

 the male and female live in separate apartments; and, indeed, it appears that, excepting at the 

 short season of courtship, they have very little or no intercourse. Pennant gives them a very 

 unamiable character. "The whole race," says that zoologist, "is so malevolent as to constantly 

 reject all society with one another. They will fight, kill, and devour their own species, as well 

 as lesser animals; and so may be said to be carnivorous as well as granivorous. If it hap]' 

 that two males meet in search of a female, a battle ensues; the female makes a short attachment 

 to the conqueror, after which the connection ceases. She brings forth two or three times in a 

 year, and produces from sixteen to eighteen young ones at a birth : their growth is very quick, 

 and at about the age of three weeks the old one forces them out of the burrows to take car 

 themselves. She shows little affection for them; for if any one digs into the hole, she attempt- < 

 to save herself by burrowing deeper into the earth, and totally neglects the safety of her bro<><! . 

 on the contrary, if attacked in the season of courtship she defends the male with the utmost fury. 



The harvest of these animals commences in August. Grains of wheat, ears of- wheat, peas ana 

 beans in the pods, all find their way into their cheek-pouches, which will hold a quarter of a pint • 



