UAMS^Eft* 
65 
wliicli accounts for some of their chambers being 
filled with only one species of grain. After the 
harvest is reaped, they, from compulsion, goto 
greater distances in search of provisions^ and car-^ 
ry to their storehouses whatever eatables they can 
lay hold of. 
To facilitate the transportation of food to theiC 
hoards, nature has provided them with pouches in 
their cheeks. These, in the inside, are furnished 
with many glands, which secrete a certain fluid, 
that preserves the flexibility of the parts. They are 
each capable of containing about two ounces of 
grain ; which the animal empties into its granary, 
by pressing its two fore feet against its cheeks. 
When its cheeks are full, it may easily be caught 
with the hand, without the risk of being bitten ; as 
it has not, in this condition, the free motion of its 
Jaws. If, however, a short time is allowed, it 
soon empties its pouch, and stands on the defen- 
sive. 
On dissecting one of these animals. Dr. Russel 
found the pouch* on each side of its mouth, stuffed 
with young French beans, arranged lengthways, so 
exactly and close to each other, that it appeared 
strange by what mechanism this had been effected ; 
for the membrane which forms the pouch, though 
muscular, is extremely thin, and the most expert 
fingers could not have packed the beans in more 
regular order. When they were laid loosely on the 
table, they formed a heap three times the bulk of 
the animal’s body. , 
What these creatures lay up, is not for their win^ 
ter’s support, since, during that season, they always 
sleep ; but for their nourishment previously to the 
commencement, and after the conclusion, of theif 
state of torpidity. The quantity in their burrows 
depends upon the size and sex of the inhabitants | 
the old ones frequently amassing upwards of a 
fQL, II, & 
