THE HAMSTER. 



each ear is diverfified with white Ipots, and a fmall portion of white appears 

 near the hind legs. Sometimes, however, thefe colours vary; and, it is 

 aflerted, that in the vicinage of Calan there is frequently found a family of 

 Ham Hers that are entirely black. 



The habitation of this animal is exceedingly curious, and dirplays a 

 conliderable lhare of ingenuity in its conftru&ion. It confifts of feveral 

 apartments, defigned for different purpofes, and wonderfully adapted to the 

 convenience of the inmates. The firft entrance is formed in an oblique 

 direction from the furface of the earth; and at the bottom of this entrance 

 a perpendicular hole is funk by the male, for his own accommodation. 

 Various fimilar excavations are made by the female, for herfelf and young 

 ones, as each individual has a feparate apartment, and each fort of grain is 

 depofited in a feparate magazine. The depth of the caverns differs according 

 to the age of the inhabitant ; that of a young Hamfter being fcarcely twelve 

 inches deep, while thofe of the old ones are funk to the depth of four or five 

 feet, and the whole diameter of the habitation, including the communications, 

 will fometimes meafure eight or ten feet. 



In the month of Auguft, the Hamfters begin to lay up a ftore of food, 

 confifting of corn, beans, or peas, which they carry in their pouches to the 

 magazines, and there clean it for their fubfiftence (a.) The quantity of grain 

 found in thefe holes depends greatly on the fex, or age, of the animals that 

 occupy them; but we are allured, that the old males will fometimes amafs a 

 collection of one hundred pounds weight. 



At the approach of winter, the animals clofe the entrance which might 

 difcover their retreat, and feed tranquilly on their provifions till the feafon 

 becomes very cold : they then fink into a lethargic ftate, which continues till 

 the return of fpring. Sometimes, however, they are difturbed by the peafants, 

 who carefully feek out their dwellings, and dig down till they come to the 

 hoard, in which they frequently find two bufiiels of good grain, befides the 

 animals themfelves, which yield valuable furs. When thus difcovered, the 

 Hamfter lies upon a bed of foft ftraw, with its head turned under its belly, 



(a) The Hamsters will carry their provisions either by grains, or in the ears or pods, and when they 

 adopt the latter expedient, they clean out the corn, or pulse, in their holes. 



