ORDER OE RODENTIA* 
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which are to be dreaded from an animal, tbe multiplication of 
which is exceedingly rapid. The females produce young three or 
four times a year : the first litter is only three or four in number, 
but the subsequent ones are from six to nine, sometimes, indeed, 
foom fifteen to eighteen. 
At one time, the number of these Rodents became so great in 
parts of Germany, that the Government of Gotha offered a pre- 
mium for their destruction : during one year eighty thousand were 
killed in that neighbourhood. 
From what we have said it may be easily imagined that 
Hamsters are not looked upon by the peasants with much favour, 
Fig. 185. — Hamster ( Cricetus frumentarius). 
but are pursued with the utmost animosity, both for the purpose 
of destroying them, and also for recovering their misappropriated 
property. The burrow of the Hamster is not difficult to find, 
and is recognised by observing near an obliquely tending hole, a 
little mound resulting from the mould scratched out by the animal. 
To destroy them the peasants spread poison-balls about the fields ; 
but this plan might lead to very serious consequences, and ought 
to be absolutely forbidden. 
In the middle of autumn the Hamster retires into his strong- 
hold, and, closing up all the avenues, shuts itself up there until 
spring. During this interval it consumes the provisions which 
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