72 



HAMSTER. 



Lemming. In the mountains of Norway and Lapland 

 these creatures are innumerable. Descending from the 

 mountains in myriads to the plains, like a raging pesti- 

 lence they destroy all the productions of the ground. 

 In wet seasons they are so abundant, that the Laplanders 

 believe them to drop from the clouds. Previously to 

 the setting in of severe weather they leave the colder 

 regions, and migrate southward in immense multitudes, 

 towards Sweden. Their migrations are singular and 

 alarming.' The animals move onward, in a direct line : 

 nothing can stop their progress. They swim over the i 

 rivers or lakes, and although thousands are drowned or 

 otherwise destroyed, the rest pursue their course. Every 

 kind of vegetable is consumed as they proceed. These 

 emigrations take place at uncertain intervals, but gene- 

 rally about once in every ten years ; and so great are the 

 obstacles which oppose their progress, and so numerous 

 their enemies, that few of the animals live to return to 

 their native mountains. Sometimes they divide into two 

 parties, attack, fight with, and destroy each other. They 

 are exceedingly bold and ferocious ; and, when enraged, 

 they raise themselves on their hind feet, and bark like so 

 many little dogs. 



In size they are not more than twice as large as the 

 common mouse. Their head is pointed, and mouth 

 small. The ears are short, naked, and almost hidden in 

 the fur. The upper parts of the body are tawny, varie- 

 gated, in general, with black ; and the lower parts are 

 whitish. 



Hamster. The ravages which are committed by these 

 animals, in several of the cultivated parts of Germany, 

 Poland, and Russia, though not so destructive as those 

 of the lemming, are occasionally very injurious. Fur- 



