LECTURE III. 105 



tail ; but it is chiefly remarkable for the total want 

 of external eyes, having merely two almost imper- 

 ceptible rudiments of those parts, situated under 

 the skin itself^ so that it exhibits the only instance 

 of a truly blind quadruped -, for the Mole and some 

 others, vulgarly considered as blind, on account of 

 the extreme smalhiess of their eyes, have still 

 those organs complete in all the usual parts ; but 

 the Mus Typhlus is totally blind. In return, its 

 hearing is said to be uncommonly acute, enabling 

 it readily to avoid all the general dangers to which 

 it may be exposed. 



Of the European Rats of large size the 

 Hamster or Mus Cricetus is the most remarkable. 

 It is of the general size of the brown Rat, but of 

 a thicker form, and is of a pale reddish colour 

 above, and black beneath; with, generally, two 

 or three white spots on each side the fore-parts. 

 On each side of the mouth the Flamster is fur- 

 nished with a large membranaceous pouch or bag, 

 which is capable of containing the quantity of a 

 quarter of a pint English measure. This animal 

 is an inhabitant of Germany, Poland, and Russia, 

 and is often extremely destructive, by devouring 

 vast quantities of grain, which it carries off in its 



