THE COMMON HAMSTER. 347 



The female produces at least two litters in the year, each 

 consisting of from six to eighteen young ones, according to 

 the age and size of the mother. They are born blind and 

 naked, but with the full number of their teeth. Their blindness 

 lasts eight or nine days. They grow very rapidly, begin to 

 dig when but a fortnight old, and as those of the first litter, 

 born at about the beginning of June, become capable of breeding 

 within the same season, an adult female may produce one 

 hundred of her species in a year. 



The flesh of the hamster, according to Dr. Weissenborn, is 

 very good and wholesome meat, especially in winter j but, owing 

 to prejudice, the richer classes of society reject it. The gipsies, 

 the gardeners of Elfurt, and the poor in Silesia, eat a great many 

 hamsters. From March to St. John's day, the fur of the 

 hamster is in its finest condition ; and is esteemed for lining 

 coats, night-gowns, &c., as being light and durable. 



THE ONDRATA, MUSQUASH, OR CANADIAN MUSK RAT.* 

 (Fiber zibeticus, Desm. ; Ondrata zibeticus, Lacep.) 



This animal is as abundant in some parts of North America 

 as brown rats are in our own country. Dr. Richardson says, 



* The Sorex moschatus, a species of shrew, is improperly called the Russian 

 musk-rat, though it belongs not only to a different genus, but quite a distinct 

 order ; and the Mus pilorides, the largest and most destructive rat known, is 

 called the musk-rat of the Antilles. Goldsmith is in error when he states 

 that the Canadians call the ondrata the stinkard, for that name they apply to 

 the skunk (Mephitis Americamis). 



