HAMSTER, 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 
Mus Cricetus. M. buccis sacculiferis, corpore subtus aterrimo, 
cicatricibus lumbaribus detonsis. Linn. Syst. 
Nat. Gniel. 1. p. 137. 
Has cheek-pouches ; lower part of the body ex- 
tremely black, with bare places on the sides. 
Glis ex cinereo rufus in dorso, in ventre niger, 
maculis tribus ad latera albis. Briss. Quadr 
p. 166. 
Hamster. . Sm. Buff.x. 7. p. 17S. pi. 223. Penn. Hist. Quadr. 
v. 2. p. 206. pi. 84. Bew. Quadr. p. 370. 
Shaw Gen. Zool. pi. 137. 
The manners of different animals are as various as 
their species, and many of them are sufficiently in- 
teresting to afford a considerable degree of enter- 
tainment: among the number, the little hamster 
claims a place for his ingenuity in contriving so com- 
modious a habitation ; at the same time we must 
confess he is a detestable little animal, and does not 
even possess one single social virtue. He has no 
love but for himself. He attacks and devours every 
living creature that he is able to conquer, and is even 
unnatural enough to eat his own species. The fe- 
