HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 371 



and, on their return to their holes, empty them, by pref- 

 fing their two fore feet againft their cheeks.— -The quan- 

 tity of provifion found in thefe magazines, depends on 

 the age or fex of the inhabitants. The old Hamfters 

 often amafs an hundred pounds weight of grain ; but the 

 young and the females are fatisfied with much lefs. 



At the approach of winter, the Hamfters retire into 

 their fubterraneous abodes, the entrance to which they 

 fliut up with great care : There they remain in perfect 

 tranquility, and feed on their provifions till the froft 

 becomes fevere, when they fink into a torpid ftate, in 

 which they continue till the return of fpring. During 

 this period, if any of the holes be opened, the Hamfter is 

 always found lying upon a bed of foft ftraw, with its 

 head turned under its belly, between its two fore legs ; 

 whilft the hind ones reft upon the muzzle: Its eyes are 

 fhut, every member perfectly ftiff, and fenfation fo to- 

 tally fufpended, that neither refpiration nor any other 

 fign of life can be perceived. "When diflected in this fi« 

 tuation, the heart may be feen alternately contracting 

 and dilating very llowly, the fat appears to be coagu- 

 lated, and the inteftines are quite cold. During this 

 operation, the animal feems to feel very little : It fome- 

 times opens its mouth, as if it wanted to refpire ; but 

 the lethargy is too ftrong to admit of its entirely awak- 

 ing. 



C They copulate about the end of April ; when the males 

 enter the apartments of the females, but remain only a 

 few days. — If two males happen to meet in the fame hole, 

 a furious combat enfues, which generally terminates in 

 the death of the weaker. 



The females bring forth twice or thrice every year; 

 A a 2 



