RODENTIA. 147 



preferring the bottom lands of high grounds. It excavates 

 galleries, and removes the earth to some distance from the open- 

 ing. Its magazines, which are principally filled with the roots 

 of the wild carrot cut into two inch pieces, are frequently two 

 feet in diameter. 



A. arvaXis i Mus arvalis, L.j Buff. VII, xlvii. (The Campag- 

 nol.) Size of a Mouse ; of a reddish-ash colour ; tail not so long 

 as the body. It inhabits holes which it excavates in the earth, 

 where it collects grain for the winter. The multiplication of 

 this animal is sometimes so excessive as to cause much injury. 



.^. (Bconomicus, Mus oeconomicus, Pall. Glir. XIV, A ; 

 Schreb. cxc. (The Meadow Campagnol.) A little darker 

 coloured, and the tail somewhat shorter. It lives in a sort of 

 oven-shaped chamber formed under the turf, from which issue 

 several narrow and ramifying canals running in various direc- 

 tions J other canals communicate with a second cavity which 

 contains its provisions. From all Siberia. It is thought to 

 have been found in Switzerland and in the south of France, 

 particularly, as we are assured, in the potatoe fields.(l) ^^ee 

 Append. X of Jim. Ed. 



Georychus, lUig. 



Or the Lemmings, Cuv. have very short ears and tail, and the 

 toes of the fore feet peculiarly well formed for digging. 



The two first species have five very distinct nails to each of 

 the fore feet, like the Rat-Moles and the Jumping-Hare. 



G. lemmus ; Mus lemmus, L.; Pall. Glir. XII, A. B. Schreb. 

 cxcv. (The Lemming.) A northern species, as large as a Rat, 

 with black and yellow fur, very celebrated for its occasional 

 migrations in innumerable bodies. At these periods they are 

 said to march in a straight line, regardless of rivers or moun- 

 tains ; and while no obstacle can impede their progress, they 

 devastate the country through which they pass. Their usual 

 residence appears to be the shores of the Arctic ocean. 



G. vulgaris ; Mus aspalax, Gm., Pall. Glir. X, Schreb. CCV. 

 (The Zocor.) Reddish-grey j the three middle nails of the fore 

 feet long, arcuate, compressed and trenchant, for cutting earth 



(1) Here most probably would come the M. saxatilis, alliarus, rutilus, gregalis 

 and socialis. Pall. Glir. But the M. lagurus and torquatus come nearer to the 

 Lemmings. There are several Field-Rats or Campagnols in North America, such 

 as the Jtrvlcola xanihognatha, Leach, Miscel. I, pi. xxvi. .Brvicola pennsylvanica, 

 Wilson, Amer. Ornith. VI, pi. 1, F. 3. .irv. palustris, Harl, &c. Better figures 

 and new and comparative descriptions of the preceding species are much wanted. 



