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CHAPTEE X. 



The Lemming. Where found in Norway. Description of the Animal. 

 Its Habits. An Experiment. Its Results. A Singular Line of 

 Argument. Migration of the Lemming from the North. Cause of 

 the Migration. The Migratory Hordes. What becomes of them. 

 Grimalkin and the Lemmings. Pugnacity of the Lemming. Its 

 Food. A Plague of Lemmings. Singular Superstitions. Opinions 

 of Ancient Writers. An Exorcism. The Lemming's Nest. 



THE lemming (Lemmus Norwegicus, Wormius) is a little 

 rodent animal which is very common in Norway, and 

 has engaged the attention of naturalists, as it is pecu- 

 liar to the country. Its home is in the fjelds of Nord- 

 land and Norwegian Lapland, and it is sometimes 

 common in the Dovre-fjeld. It has received various 

 names in this country, such as the fjeld-muus, or 

 mountain mouse, lemming, lom-hund, Icemus, Icemen, 

 sabel-muus, norsk-muus, etc. etc. It is called lum- 

 mick in Norwegian Lapland. 



The following is the description of a lemming cap- 

 tured by the author near Christiania in 1863 : The 

 occiput and crown of the head, running on to the nose, 

 jet black ; upper part of the neck, black ; two streaks 

 of tawny-yellow running down the sides of the neck ; 



