WILD MICK 71 



tie creatures inhabit the lo\v, wet meadows in great num- 

 bers. When the heavy rains of autumn drive them out, 

 they move to higher and drier ground, and look for some 

 hillock, or old ant-hill, under which to dig their home. In 

 digging they scratch rapidly with the fore-feet a few times, 

 and then throw back the earth to a great distance with the 

 hind-feet, frequently loosening the dirt with their teeth, and 

 pushing it aside with their noses. As the hole grow r s deep- 

 er (horizontally) they w r ill lie on their backs and dig over- 

 head, every little while backing slowly out and shoving the 

 loose earth to the entrance. These winter burrows are only 

 five or six inches below the surface, and sometimes are sim- 

 ply hollowed out under a great stone, but are remarkable 

 for the numerous and complicated chambers and side pas- 

 sages of which they are composed. In one of the largest 

 rooms of this subterranean house is placed their winter bed, 

 formed of fine dry grasses. Its shape and size are about 

 that of a foot-ball, with only a small cavity in the centre, 

 entered through a hole in the side, and they creep in as do 

 Arctic travellers into their fur-bags. 



"Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste, 

 An' weary winter comin' fast, 

 An' cosy here, beneath the blast 



Thou thought to dwell." 



