THE HAMSTER 



As a rule, hamsters retire from the world to their subterranean dwelling- 

 places some time during October ; when they block up the entrances and exits of 

 the winter-burrows with earth. Apparently they almost immediately enter on their 

 winter-sleep, from which they do not awake till the following February or March, 

 according to the temperature. The weather at this early period of the year is, 

 however, by no means suited for an out-door existence, and these rodents 

 accordingly subsist for a season on their hoarded grain. The old males generally 

 • make their appearance above ground about the middle of March, but the females 

 defer their emergence till a fortnight or so later. They are then ravenously hungry, 

 and will devour almost anything that comes in their way, including beetles or other 

 insects and an occasional bird or mouse. 



In summer the nest-chamber of the females, which is distinct from the 

 summer-burrow of the males and is furnished with one exit and several entrances, 

 is carefully lined with hay. Towards the end of April the males visit the females 

 in their own apartments ; and four or five weeks later the first litter of blind and 

 naked young — varying in number from half a dozen to eighteen — is produced. 

 These rapidly develop their fur, and open their eyes about the eighth or ninth day ; 

 and within a fortnight are driven away from the parental burrow to construct a new 

 one of their own. Freed from one family, the old hamsters set about producing a 

 second one, which usually comes into the world in July. The annual increase is, 

 however, by no means limited to the older individuals, for the members of the 

 early spring litter are able to produce young ones in the autumn. 



Hamsters frequently make their appearance in enormous swarms, when they 

 do vast damage to crops. In return, the winter granaries of these rodents are 

 frequently raided by the peasants of countries where they are common ; the flesh of 

 the hamster is also eaten, and its fur employed for lining cloaks and coats. 



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