THE LEMING. 217 



Migrations. 



surface of the ground, and in winter they make 

 long passages under the snow in search of food ; 

 for as they lay up no winter provisions, they are 

 reduced to the necessity of hunting for them 

 during all the rigors of the cold season. 



They seem to be endowed with ft power of* dis- 

 tinguishing the approach of severe weather ; for 

 previously to the setting in of a cold winter they 

 quit their haunts in the aforementioned coun- 

 tries, and emigrate in immense multitudes south- 

 wards towards Sweden, always endeavouring to 

 keep a direct line. These emigrations take place 

 at uncertain intervals, though generally about 

 once every ten years : and, exposed as the tra- 

 Tellers are to attack, they of course become 

 the prey of a variety of animals. Multitudes 

 also are destroyed in endeavouring to swim 

 over the rivers or lakes. From these differ- 

 ent causes, very few of them survive to return, 

 to their native mountains; and thus a check is 

 put to their ravages, as an interval of several 

 years is necessary to repair their numbers suffici r 

 ently for another invasion. Thej' are bold ajid 

 fierce, and even will attack men and animals if 

 they meet them in their course; and they bite sp 

 hard, as to allow themselves to be carried to a 

 considerable distance hanging by their teeth, be- 

 fore they will quit their hold. It has been re- 

 innrked, that no opposition impedes the progress 

 ^f these animals in their migrations. 



O 



if disturbed or pursued while swimming ovei 

 2 E 2 



