372 



Otoarftirn of Natural 



fore legs : they have five toes on each foot, 

 and the claws on the fore feet are strong, 

 compressed, and rather crooked : the tail is 

 very short, thick, cylindrical, and covered 

 with strong hairs, disposed like those of a 



pencil at the tip. They subsist entirely on 

 vegetable food. They form shallow bur- 

 rows, in summer time, under the ground 

 and in winter make long passages under the 

 snow in search of food. The most extra- 



pairs of extremities, and to the ordinary 

 quadruped in their elongated pointed head 

 and sharp projecting muzzle : thev are also 

 void of that mischievous and petulant dis- 

 position which so much distinguishes the 

 monkey tribe ; and at the same time thev 

 differ from them in their dentition. They 

 are all natives of Madagascar and of some 

 )t the smaller islands in its neighbourhood 

 The general form of the body is slender and 

 elongated ; the head shaped' somewhat like 

 that of a fox ; and the eyes large, as in the 

 generality of nocturnal" animals. A long 

 curved claw on the first fingers of the hind 

 feet distinguishes them from all other quad- 

 rumana. Their hind legs are much longer 

 than their anterior limbs, and for the most 

 part they are excellent leapers. Gentle 



ordinary characteristic of these animals is i a , nd narmlessa s these animals in general are, 

 at ] tne y. w "l defend themselves with great 



their migrations, which they undertake ... 

 irregular epochs upon an average about 

 once in ten years : these migrations are sup- 

 posed to arise from an unusual multiplica- 

 tion of the animals in the mountainous parts 

 they inhabit, together with a deficiency of 

 food ; and, perhaps, a kind of instinctive 

 prescience of the severity of the approachin- 

 winter. They descend from the mountains 

 in incredible numbers, and assemble in the 

 plains ; and then, as it were with one con- 

 sent, they march on in a direct course, no 

 obstacle deterring them, and nothing seem- 

 ing to make them turn aside. If they are 

 disturbed while swimming over a lake or 

 river, they will not recede, but swim on, 

 find soon re-assume their former order. 

 They chiefly move at night, or early in the 

 morning ; so completely devouring the her- 

 bage as they pass, that the ground has the 

 appearance of having been burnt. Exposed 

 as they are to every attack from owls, 

 hawks, weasels, &c., and so many being de- 

 stroyed in attempting to cross rivers and 

 lakes, the diminution of their numbers is 

 very great ; so that comparatively very few 

 return to their native haunts. When en- 

 raged, they raise themselves on their hind 

 feet, and utter a barking sound. They breed 

 several times in the year, producing five or 

 six at a birth. Formerly, so gross was the 

 superstition of the common people of Nor- 

 way, and so great their terror at these de- 

 vastating marches, that they believed the 

 Lemmings fell from the clouds ; and they 

 were actually exorcised by the clergy. 



The HUDSON'S BAY LEMMING is of an ash 

 colour, with a tinge of tawny on the back, 

 having a dusky stripe along its middle, and 

 a pale line on each side. The hair is very 

 fine, soft, and long. It is known that they 

 migrate like the foregoing species. It occurs 

 n Labrador, and all parts of Northern Ame- 

 rica bordering on the Polar Sea. It has the 

 character of being very inoffensive, and so 

 easily tamed that, when caught, it will be- 

 come not only reconciled to its situation in 

 a day or two, but show a fondness for the 

 caresses of its master. 



LEMUR. A genus of Quadrumanous ani- 

 nals which approximate to the Monkey 

 .ribe in having opposable thumbs on both 



solution when attacked. 



naunts they associate in troops ; but they 

 are seldom seen abroad in the day-time, 

 always as much as possible secluding them- 

 selves from the light. They subsist on fruit, 

 insects, and small birds. Their fur is usually 

 very fine and silky ; and the tail long and 



bushy : there are 



species, however, 



which are wholly destitute of a tail, and 

 others where that member is merely ru- > 

 dimentary. [See Lorn: for the Flying Lemur, < 

 see GALEOPITUECUS.] 



LEO. The classical appellation for the 



Lion. [See Liox.] 



( Felis leopardus. ) A grs 



LEOPARD. ^ ^ e 



ful and active animal belonging to thVf'dTne 

 tribe, but so like the Panther as to be fre- 

 quently taken for it by the mere casual 

 observer. The principal difference is in size ; 

 the Leopard being considerably the smaller 

 of the two, and of a paler yellow colour ; i 

 while the ocelli or rounded marks on the i 

 Panther are larger, and more distinctly > 

 formed. Both animals are widely diffused 

 through the tropical regions of the Old 

 World ; being natives of Africa, Persia, Chi- 

 na, India, and many of the Indian islands. 

 The general length of the Leopard, from 



nose to tail, is four feet ; and of the tail, t^ 

 and a half; and so great is its flexibility of i 

 body, that it is able to take surprising leaps, ! 

 to swim, climb trees, or crawl like a snake ! 

 upon the ground, with nearly equal facility. ! 

 When pursued, they often take refuge in 

 trees, and occasionally spring upon their 

 prey from the branches. In speaking of the I 

 Leopard, Mr. Swainson observes, " Although I 

 the names of Leopard and Panther have 



