THE LEMMING. 



173 



no fear, but only urged by undiscriminating rage. Any river or lake 

 they swim without hesitation, and seem rather to enjoy the water than 

 to fear it. If a stack or a corn-rick should stand in their way they set- 

 tle the matter by eating their way through it, and will not be turned 



/ -^ 



The Lemming {3Iy6des Lemmus). 



from their direct course even by fire. The country over which they 

 pass is utterly devastated by them, and it is said that cattle will not 

 touch the grass on which a Lemming has trodden. 



These migrating hosts are accompanied by clouds of predaceous birds 

 and by many predaceous quadrupeds, who find a continual feast spread 

 for them as long as the Lemmings are on their pilgrimage. While they 

 are crossing the rivers or lakes, the fish come in for their share of the 

 banquet, and make great havoc among their columns. It is a very re- 

 markable fact that the reindeer is often seen in chase of the Lemmings ; 

 and the Norwegians say that the deer is in the habit of eating them. 

 This statement, however, seems to be of rather doubtful character. The 

 termination of these extraordinary migrations is generally in the sea, 

 where the survivors of the much-reduced ranks finally perish. Mr. 

 Lloyd mentions that just before his visit to Wermeland the Lemming 

 had overrun the whole country. The primary cause of these strange 

 migrations is generally thought to be hunger. It is fortunate for the 

 country that these razzias occur only at rare intervals, a space of some 

 ten or fifteen years generally elapsing between them, as if to fill up the 

 places of those w^hich were drowned or otherwise killed in the preced- 

 ing migration. 



The Lemmings feed upon various vegetable substances, such as grass, 

 reeds, and lichens, being often forced to seek the last-named plant be- 

 neath the snow, and to make occasional air-shafts to the surface. Even 

 when engaged in their ordinary pursuits, and not excited by the raigra- 



15* 



