Till: /. ;...; 



share of the banquet, and make great linvoc unions their columns. It is a very remarkul 



fact that tin- reind.-er i- often x,-,.n in cha.se of (In- I^mmiiurs ; and the Norwegians say (hut the 

 d.-er i- in ill.- hal.it of .-alin- tin-in. This .stat.-in.-nt. h, n to be rather of .loiil.tful 



.hai-.i. !!. I'll.- t.-niiinatioii of ih.-se extraordinary migration* is generally in the sea, where 

 th- sun i\oi>. of tin- much-reduci-d ranks finally perish. Mr. I,lo\d mentions that just before 

 his \i-it to \Vi-nii.-lainl. tin- Ix-iiunin^ h:i.| o\.-rrnn tin- whole country. Tin- primary caoae of 

 these strange migrations i> generally thought to I N< hunger. It is foriiinat.' for the country 

 that these nuria.s only occur at nnv int.-i \:il-. a space of some ten or fifteen year* generally 

 elapsing lietween them, as if to lill up tin- places of those which were lro\\n.-.l \ oili.-i-\\ is,- 

 killed in the preceding migrat ion. 



The Lemming f.i-ds II|H.II \aiioilV|getal>le substances. MK h as grass, rwds, anl lirli.-n-. 

 l>eing often forced to 8eek the hut-named plant Iteiieath ilu- sno\\, ami to make occasional 

 air-shafts to the surface. Even when engaged in their ordinary pursuits, and not .-xcited by 

 the migratorial instinct, they are obstinately savage creatures. Mr. Metcalfe describes them 

 :i- -A i' in in .. in ft* tawt, sitting two 01 P.'.. QAW] -".'!.;. 0d bitilU 'li> ilog^ BOtBfl as 

 th.-y came to investigate the character of the irritable littl.* animals. If they hap|-n.-l to l- 

 in a pathway, they would n<>t turn aside to jx-nnit a ].a.ss.-np-r to mov.- l.\ them, but boldly 

 disputed the riglit of way, and utt.-n-d defiance in little sharp, squeaking barks. 



The color of the Lemming is dark brownish-black, mixed irregularly with a tawny hue 

 upon the back, and fadinir into yellowish \\ hi te upon the abdomen. Its length is not quite 

 six inches, the tail Iwirn: only half an inch long. 



The Collared Lemming (Cuniculus tortfuatus) is the only one of the genus found hi 

 America, and is identical with that of Northern Asia. The Cree Indians call it White Bear 



M..II-... |i ;iN., i> H:MII'-.| ilair-tail'-d I!at. llu.l-.u'- l!at. and llii.U-.n'> l'.a\ l>-ininiii_-. In 



winter it is pure white. 







TIIK family Haplodontida is a very peculiar one, founded upon the existence of a single 

 sj.<-i,-s of !!.!. -in. iiihat-iiiii- ..nl> th.- northwesN-ni p..rii..ii ..f th.- I nii.-l Stat-s in \\':i-h 

 ington Territorj", from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains. 



The native name is "Sewellell ;" its systematic designation Hn/ilodon mfu*. In general 

 aspect it is not unlike the woodchnck ; its smaller head at once distinguishes it. as well as its 

 inferior size. It burrows, and is gregarious in nature. Its voice is a shrill whistle; its food 

 of a vegetable nature. 



It was first brought to notice by Lewis and Clark, the U. S. explorers, in 1805. Mr. Gibbs, 

 the ethnographer, visited the region inhabited by these rare creatures. He saw them in com- 

 munities like those of the prairie dog. They sat upright at the mouths of their burrows, ami 

 whistled much like the hitter animal. 



A very singular habit was noticed ; they cut a kind of herb, and laid the pieces in bundles 

 on any neighboring log or prominence; suggesting the frugal husbandry of the country 

 matron, who cuts and dries her medicinal herbs. 



Its habits of breeding are not precisely known ; but it is thought they have at least three 

 broods in a year. 



TIIK common BEAVER has earned a world-wide reputation by the wonderful instinct which 

 it displays, independently of its very great value in producing costly fur and perfume. 



This animal is found in the northern parts of Europe ami Asia, but is found in the greatest 

 profusion in North America. It is generally -up]>os-<l that there is but one species of true 

 Beaver, ami that the Beaver of Europe and Asia is specifically identical with that of America, 

 even though certain small differences of fur and coloring maybe discerned lH>tw-en them. 

 The social Beaver of Northern America is a truly wonderful animal, displaying a singular 

 mixture of reason and instinct, together with a curious absence of both on occasions. The best 

 account of tin- animal is to be found in Audubon and Bachman's valuable work on the quad- 

 rui-ds of North America, to which \\ork I am indeht.-d for the following particulars. 



The Beaver lives in societies, varying considerably in number, and united together in the 



