82 PUGNACITY. 



common and the arctic-fox, which "just snap them in two 

 pieces, leaving their heads, hind-legs, and tails, with which the 

 ground is everywhere covered." Dogs and cats come in for 

 their share, as do also the voracious portion of the finny 

 tribe, whilst the little creatures are crossing lakes and rivers. 

 Instances are on record of ten to twelve lemmings being 

 found in the belly of a single pike. But still in spite 

 of all these casualties the troop on its arrival at the 

 coast, or other point where it purposes wintering, would 

 not seem to have suffered any very sensible diminution in 

 its numbers. 



Even if quite alone, the lemming evinces little fear; but 

 on the occasion of their migrations, when they are collected 

 together in millions, no danger, however great, alarms 

 him. He will then rather perisb from superior force, than 

 deviate a step from the route he has chalked out for him- 

 self. Be it a man, horse, dog, or cat that he meets, he 

 rarely flies or hides himself; but, on the contrary, he will 

 raise himself on his hind-quarters, assume an attitude of 

 defiance, uttering a squeaking kind of bark ; and if at these 

 times a stick be held out to him, he will seize it with such 

 ferocity as to allow himself to be lifted from the ground with- 

 out quitting his hold ! Neither does he entertain any appre- 

 hensions from noises, however loud, for he will pass as near 

 to a Hammar-smedja, or foundry for bar-iron, as to a barn ; 

 and a shot fired above his head does not terrify him in the 

 least. He will not get out of the way of a carriage, but 

 rather allow the wheel to pass over his body. 



" Mr. Johansen," says Sir A. Brooke, " mentioned a 

 curious and rather laughable circumstance respecting these 



