(ECONOMIC RAT. 87 



migration. It is said that the inhabitants of 



O 



Kamtschatka, when they happen to find them in 

 this fatigued situation, treat them with the ut- 

 most tenderness, and endeavour by every possible 

 method to refresh and restore them to life and 

 vigour. Indeed none of the smaller animals are 

 so much esteemed by the Kamtschadales as these; 

 since to their labours they owe many a delicious 

 repast ; robbing their hoards in autumn, and 

 leaving there some kind of provision in return, 

 accompanied by some ridiculous presents by way 

 of amends for the theft. As soon as the migrat- 

 ing host of these animals has crossed the river 

 Penschim, at the head of the gulph of that name, 

 it turns southward, and reaches the rivers Ju- 

 doma and Ochot about the middle of July : the 

 space thus traversed appears astonishing, on con- 

 sulting the map of the country. The flocks, dur- 

 ing this time, are so numerous that an observer 

 has waited two hours to see them all pass. Their 

 return into Kamtschatka is in October, and is 

 attended with the utmost festivity and welcome 

 on the part of the natives, who consider their ar- 

 rival as a sure prognostic of a successful chase 

 and fishery ; and they are said equally to lament 

 their migrations, which are usually succeeded by 

 rainy and tempestuous weather. 



This curious species is generally of a tawny co- 

 lour, darker on the back, and lighter or more ap- 

 proaching to an ash-coloured whiteness beneath : 

 its usual length is about four inches and a quarter, 

 and the tail one inch : its limbs are strong ; its 



