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year 1827., more especially, they did an immensity of 

 injury, having arrived when the grain was still on the 

 ground. In 1834 they did less damage, because the 

 harvest was then for the most part housed. Their 

 ravages might almost be compared to those of the 

 Egyptian grasshopper. In 1827 people erected scaf- 

 folding, that the corn might be raised above the 

 ground ; but they, nevertheless, climbed up to the 

 sheaves, where they sat as thick as birds. What with 

 battles amongst themselves and with the cats, they 

 made such a noise near to the parsonage, that it was 

 difficult to sleep, and if the door was left open, they 

 entered the house itself. They never descend to the 

 valley until the grass on the fjelds is withered and 

 dried up ; and in the places overrun by them they so 

 gnaw the sward itself, that it is needful to send the 

 grass to the opposite side of the fjord to prevent other 

 animals dying of hunger. Before the winter sets in, 

 nine-tenths of them commonly swim out into the fjord 

 and perish ; but the residue remain during the whole 

 winter, and make for themselves numerous runs under 

 the snow, and so gnaw away the bark from the trees 

 and bushes, that in the spring a white ring is formed 

 near to their roots, from which injury they soon perish." 

 It is to be regretted that the lemming's skin is con- 

 sidered of no value in Norway. It is soft and warm, 

 and one would suppose that it could be turned to some 

 practical account. In the far north it certainly serves 

 the purpose of lining for birds' nests, and large owls 

 not only line their nests with the lemming's hair, but 

 strip off whole portions of the skin of the little animal 

 wherewith to keep up a comfortable degree of warmth for 

 their young when they come unfledged into the world. 



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