HAMSTER. 
67 
solely to a certain degree of cold ; but experience 
has proved, that to render him torpid, he must 
also be excluded from .all communication with the 
external air ; for when one of them is shut up in 
a cage filled with earth and straw, and exposed 
in winter to a degree of cold even sufficient to 
freeze water, he never becomes so. But when the 
cage is sunk four or five feet under-ground, and 
well secured against the access of air, at the end 
of eight or ten days he is as torpid as if he had 
been in his own burrow. If the cage is brought 
up to the surface, he will awake in a few hours ; 
and resumes his torpid state when put below the 
earth again. 
When the animal is passing from a state of tor- 
pidity, his actions are very singular. He first 
loses the rigidity of his members ; and then makes 
profound respirations, but at long intervals. His 
legs begin to move ; he opens his mouth, and 
utters disagreeable and rattling sounds. After 
continuing these operations for some time, he opens 
his eyes, and endeavours to raise himself on his 
legs. But all these movements are still reeling 
and unsteady, like those of a man intoxicated with 
liquor ; he, however, reiterates Lis efforts, till 
he is at length able to stand on his legs. In this 
attitude be remains fixed ; as if he meant to re- 
connoitre, and repose himself after his fatigue. 
But he gradually begins to walk, to eat, and to 
act in his usual manner. This passage from a 
torpid to an active state, requires more or less 
time, according to the temperature of the air. 
When exposed to a cold air, he sometimes re- 
quires above two hours to awake ; but in a more 
temperate air., he accomplishes his purpose in less 
than one. 
These animals are very fierce ; they will jump 
%t % horse if he happens to tread near them ; and , 
