242 MAMMALIA— CHINCHILLA. 



■which causes a great scarcity of grain, by the devastation these animals 

 make. 



The back of the hamster is commonly brown, and the belly black ; how- 

 ever, there are some of a gray color ; and this difference may proceed 

 from their age. Besides these, there are some often met with which are 

 entirely black. 



The hamster begins to burrow at the age of six weeks, or two months ; 

 it never procreates, however, in the first year of its growth. There are 

 numbers produced in one year, insomuch, that, in some parts of Germany, 

 from their occasioning a dearth of corn, a reward is fixed on their heads. 

 In one year, about eleven thousand skins, in another fifty-four thousand, 

 and in a third year, eighty thousand were produced at the toAvn hall of 

 Golha, as vouchers to enable the bearers to receive the reward. They 

 are likewise in such great numbers, that their fur is sold exceedingly cheap. 



The polecat is a great enemy to the hamster, which he destroy in great 

 numbers; he not only pursues them on land, but follov/s them into their 

 burrows, and feeds on them there. 



The hamster itself, is one of the most inveterate enemies of its OAvn kind. 

 His life, (says a recent naturalist,) is divided between eating and fighting. 

 He seems to have no other passion than that of rage ; which induces him 

 to attack every animal that comes in his way, without in the least attend- 

 ing to the strength of the enemy. Ignorant of the art of saving himself 

 by flight, rather than yield, he will allow himself to be beaten in pieces 

 ■with a stick. If he seizes a man's hand, he must be killed before he will 

 quit his hold. 



THE CHINCHILLA. 1 



This interesting animal, which produces the fur which passes under its 

 name, is a species of field mouse, and is common in the high plains of Chili 

 and Peru. It is about nine inches in length, and has a tail about half the 

 length of its body. It sits upon its haunches, and takes its food in its fore 

 paws like a squirrel. It feeds chiefly upon bulbous roots. 



' Cricetus laniger, Desm. 



