Page:The Golden Hamster Manual.djvu/11

 a daughter, then joining the litter mates in devouring the flesh. Under such situation the litter count may be reduced regularly to balance the food supply. A domesticated hamster mother may behave similarly with her young if starved to the point of such desperation.

4. Living Multiplication Tables

Far more prolific than cavies, mink or rabbits, up to 18 young, weighing approximately 1/14 to $1/8$ oz. each, are born per litter. Females are old enough sexually to mate at 35 to 40 days, and may give birth to first litters at about 8 to 9 weeks. Gestation (pregnancy) is a period of less than 16 days (averages 15 days, $21 1/2$ hrs.), during which time the female may gain from 1 to $2 1/2$ oz. and may double her girth during the last 9 days of that period. Governed by food and water supply, weather and other hazards, the wild litter, averaging 5 to 10, is weaned at 21 to 28 days and weighs from $5/8$ to $1 3/4$ oz. per animal, according to circumstances of extreme favor or disfavor encountered during the unweaned life of the litter. Eyes are not fully opened until the 15th day. Unless the mother drives them away earlier, the kittens do little foraging before the 22nd to 24th days.



The 10 days following weaning are days of rapid development of instinct and amazing growth of body but of highest casualty in the wild state. Those surviving learn much about hawks, owls, snakes and four-footed foes. Hamsters are actively inquisitive, which frequently favors destruction by beasts of prey. The young females are about ready for first matings, and in all probabilities spring females may become grandmothers before snowfall. In native state, according to warmth of climate, reproduction generally is limited to 6 or 8 warmer months of the year. Life span is about $2 1/2$ years.

Hamsters are comparatively new to domestication, having only about 19 years of history under the care of man. They have remarkable freedom from any native disease, are clean, not noisy, have no smelly