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 ina third year, eighty thousand were produced at the town hall of 
Gotha, 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 follows them into their 
burrows, and feeds on them there. 
The hamster itself, is one of the most inveterate enemies of its own 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 wil: 
quit his hold. 
‘ 
pels 312 CHINCHILLA} 
Tuts 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. 
