258 RODENTIA. 



LEMMING. 



My odes lemmiis. 

 French : Lemming. German : Bellichmaus. 



The Lemming, which is only about 3 or 4 inches in 

 length, bears great similarity in colour to the Hamster, 

 being brownish-grey, and a lighter brown underneath. 

 It also resembles it in the abundance with which it is 

 found in certain seasons, moving in thousands from 

 place to place, until at last they are stopped by the sea 

 or some other natural obstacle. The food of the 

 Lemming is entirely vegetarian. Its flesh is said by the 

 Eev. J. G. "Wood to be good eating. This fur is of little 

 value, except as a lining, and the skin is barely worth a 

 penny. 



The Lemming inhabits Norway and Sweden, and a 

 similar species is found in the extreme North of 

 America. 



MUSQUASH. 



Fiber :^ihet]dcus. 



French : Rat musque. German : Bisamratte. 



The Musquash, or Musk-rat as it is sometimes called, 

 especially in America, derives its name from the 

 pungent odour which its skin exudes. It was also 

 known at one time under the name of Besam, which 

 was probably a corruption from the German. 



The size of the Musquash is from 6 to 12 inches, some 

 large specimens exceeding one foot ; this does not include 



