98 HAMSTER RAT. 



in a state of tranquillity^ feeds on his collecled 

 provision till the frost becomes severe ; at which 

 period he falls into a profound slumber, which 

 soon grows into a confirmed torpidity, so that 

 the animal continues rolled up, with all its limbs 

 inflexible, its body perfectly cold, and without 

 the least appearance of life. In this state it may 

 even be opened ; when the heart is seen alternately 

 contracting and dilating, but with a motion so 

 slow as to be scarce perceptible, not exceeding 

 fifteen pulsations in a minute, though in the wak- 

 ing state of the animal it beats a hundred and 

 fifty pulsations in the same time. It is added, 

 that the fat of the creature has the appearance of 

 being coagulated, that its intestine^ do not exhi- 

 bit the smallest symptoms of irritability on the 

 application of the strongest stimulants, and the 

 electric shock may be passed through it without 

 effect. This lethargy of the Hamster has been 

 generally ascribed to the effect of cold alone ; but 

 late observations have proved, that unless at a 

 certain depth beneath the surface, so as to be be- 

 yond the access of the external air, the animal 

 does not fall into its state of torpidity, and that 

 the severest cold on the surface does not affect it. 

 On the contrary, when dug up out of its burrow, 

 and exposed to the air, it infallibly awakes in a 

 few hours. The waking of the Hamster is a 

 gradual operation : he first loses the rigidity of 

 his limbs, then makes profound inspirations, at 

 long intervals ; after this he begins to move his 

 limbsj opens his mouth, and utters a sort of un- 



