HARE KIND. 131 



of a bright bay. The length of the animal is 

 nine inches. This species is first seen on the 

 Altaic chain ; extends to Lake Baikal ; from 

 thence to Kamtschatka ; and, as is said, is found 

 in the newly discovered Fox or Aleutian Islands. 

 They inhabit always the middle region of the 

 snowy mountains, in the rudest places, wooded 

 and abounding with herbs and moisture. They 

 sometimes form burrows between the rocks, and 

 oftener lodge in the crevices. They are gene- 

 rally found in pairs ; but in cloudy weather they 

 collect together, lie on the rocks, and give a 

 keen whistle, so like that of a sparrow as to de- 

 ceive the hearer. By wonderful instinct they 

 make a provision against the rigorous season in 

 their inclement seats. A company of them, to- 

 wards autumn, collect together vast heaps of 

 choice herbs and grasses, well dried, which they 

 place either beneath the over-hanging rocks, or 

 between the chasms, or round the trunk of some 

 tree. The way to these heaps is marked by a 

 worn path. In many places the herbs appear 

 scattered, as if to be dried in the sun, and har- 

 vested properly. The heaps are formed like round 

 or conoid ricks, and are of various sizes, accord- 

 ing to the number of the society employed in 

 forming them. They are sometimes of a man's 

 height, and many feet in diameter, but usually 

 about three feet. Without this provision of win- 

 ter's stock they must perish, being prevented by 

 the depth of snow from quitting their retreats in 

 quest of food. They select the best of vegetables, 

 and crop them when in the fullest vigour, which 



