46 MEMOIR OF PENNANT. 



We assent to the fact, but must solve the pheno- 

 menon by ascribing it to a whirlwind, as he does 

 in one place, yet immediately supposes they may be 

 bred in the upper regions out of feculent matter." 



Following our tourist to Iceland, we shall select 

 a few of his zoological observations on that remote 

 island. " An attempt has been made to introduce 

 the rein-deer; those which have survived the voyage 

 have bred frequently. There can be little doubt of 

 their succeeding ; Iceland has, in common with Lap- 

 land, most of the plants for their summer's food, 

 and abundance of the rein-deer lichen for their 

 winter provision. Rats and mice seem to have been 

 involuntarily transported. Both the domestic spe- 

 cies are found here ; and the white variety of the 

 mouse, called in the Icelandic skorger mys^ is com- 

 mon in the bushes. I suspect that there is a na- 

 tive species allied, as Dr. Pallas imagines, to the 

 Oeconomic ; for like that, it lays in a great maga- 

 zine of berries by way of winter store. This species 

 is particularly plentiful in the wood of Husafels. In 

 a country where berries are but thinly dispersed, 

 these little animals are obliged to cross rivers to 

 make their distant forages. In their return with 

 their booty to their magazines, they are obliged to 

 repass the stream ; of which Mr. Oleffen gives the 

 following account : c The party, which consists of 

 from six to ten, select a flat piece of dried cow- 

 dung, on which they lay the berries in a heap on 

 the middle ; then by their united force they bring 



