ARTIFICES OF ANIMALS. 233 



back, and, after fixing himself firmly between the horns, tears 

 out his eyes, which torments the animal to such a degree, 

 that, whether to put an end to its torments, or to get rid of its 

 cruel enemy, it strikes its head against the tree till it falls 

 down dead. The glutton divides the flesh of the deer into 

 convenient portions, and conceals them in the earth to serve 

 for future provisions. The gluttons on the river Lena kill 

 horses in the same manner. 



There are several species of rats in Kamtschatka. The 

 most remarkable kind is called tegulchitch by the natives. 

 These rats make neat and spacious nests under ground ; 

 they are lined with turf, and divided into different apartments, 

 in which the rats deposit stores of provisions for supporting 

 them during the winter. It is worthy of remark, that the 

 rats of this country never touch the provisions laid up for the 

 winter, except when they cannot procure nourishment any 

 where else. These rats, like the Tartars, change their 

 habitations. Sometimes they totally abandon Kamtschatka 

 for several years, and their retreat greatly alarms the inhab- 

 itants, which they consider as a presage of a rainy season, 

 and of a bad year for hunting. The return of these animals 

 is, of course, looked upon as a good omen. Whenever they 

 appear, the happy news is soon spread over all parts of the 

 country. They always take their departure in the spring, 

 when they assemble in prodigious numbers, and traverse 

 rivers, lakes, and even arms of the sea. After they have made 

 a long voyage, they frequently lie motionless on the shore, 

 as if they were dead. When they recover their strength, 

 they recommence their march. The inhabitants of Kamt- 

 schatka are very solicitous for the preservation of these ani- 

 mals. They never do the rats any injury, but give them every 

 assistance when they lie weakened and extended on the 

 ground. They generally return to Kamtschatka about the 

 month of October; and they are sometimes met with in such 

 prodigious numbers, that travellers are obliged to stop two 

 hours till the whole troop passes. The tract of ground they 

 travel in a single summer is not less wonderful than the regu- 

 larity they observe in their march, and that instinctive im- 

 pulse which enables them to foresee, with certainty, the 

 changes of times and of seasons. 



With regard to birds, their artifices are not less numerous 



nor less surprising than those of quadrupeds. The eagle and 



hawk kinds are remarkable for the sharpness of their sight, 



and the arts they employ in catching their prey. Their 



20* 



