RAVAGES. 83 



little animals. In the summer of 1788, when there were 

 reviews of large bodies of cavalry near to Drontljeim, the 

 lemmings appeared in the surrounding country in immense 

 numbers ; and it excited no small amusement, when the 

 regiments were performing their manoeuvres and charges, 

 to see these diminutive creatures put themselves into a 

 posture of defence, as if ready to receive the attacks of the 

 enemy." 



The ravages committed by the lemmings during their 

 wanderings are differently represented. "When an army 

 of these animals have passed," we are told by Professor 

 Nilsson, " the ground has the appearance as if fire had gone 

 over it, the grass, moss, leaves, &c., are destroyed, and the 

 sward itself furrowed up." M. Soderhjelm relates, on the 

 contrary, " that when on the march, it has not been 

 observed that they have done any considerable damage to 

 the growing crops." 



All, however, agree in this, that where they have taken 

 up their quarters for some time their ravages are dreadful. 



"The failure of the hay-harvest on the following year," 

 says the Professor N. J. Berlin, when speaking of a great 

 inroad of the lemmings into Norrland in the year 1823, 

 " was supposed to have been caused by these animals, which 

 so devoured the roots of the grass, that whole pasture fields 

 were entirely bare." 



"In the summer of 1823," writes M. Littorin, "when 

 residing at my farm in the parish of Soderala in Southern 

 Helsingland, I received an altogether unexpected visit from a 

 multitude of lemmings. Those which did not die during the 

 autumn remained over the winter, and for the most part 



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