324 AN AGREEABLE DISCOVERY. 



I picked him up, and imagine my delight when 

 for the first time I held a new Lagomys in my 

 hand. Having made out what he was, the next 

 thinsT to be done was to watch for others to 



o 



find out what they did, and how they passed the 

 time in their stony citadel. I had not long to 

 wait; they soon came peeping slily out of 

 their hiding-places, and, inferring safety from 

 silence, sat upon the stones and cheerily chorused 

 to each other. The least noise, and the whistle 

 was sounded sharper and more shrill the danger- 

 signal, when one and all took headers among the 

 stones. 



I soon observed they were busy at work, 

 carrying in dry grass, fir-fronds, roots, and 

 moss, and constructing a nest in the clefts 

 between the stones, clearly for winter-quarters. 

 The nests were of large size, some of them con- 

 sisting of as much material as would fill a good- 

 sized basket. One nest was evidently the 

 combined work of several little labourers, and 

 destined for their joint habitation. 



There were no provisions stored away, neither 

 do I think they garner any for winter use, but 

 simply hybernate in the warm nest; which, of 

 course, is thickly covered with snow during the 



