HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 409 



THE LAPLAND MARMOT. 

 (Mus Lruiinus, Linn. Le Leming, Buff.) 



THIS wonderful little animal is found only in the 

 northern parts of Europe and Asia; and is some- 

 times seen in immense numbers, overspreading 

 large tracts of country, in Norway, Sweden, and 

 Lapland. But as its appearance is at very uncer- 

 tain periods, and the source from whence it is 

 derived has not been hitherto explored by any 

 naturalist, its existence* has been seriously attri- 

 buted, by superstitious ignorance, to the generation 

 of the clouds ; from whence, it has been supposed, 

 it was poured down in showers of rain. Myriads 

 of them march together; and, like a torrent, which 

 nothing can resist, their course is marked with ruin 

 and desolation. Neither fire nor water prevents 

 their progress. They go straight forward, in regu- 

 lar lines, about three feet asunder, and generally in 

 a south-east direction : they swim across lakes and 

 rivers: no opposition impedes them. If thousands 

 are destroyed, thousands supply their places: the 

 void is quickly filled up; and their number does 

 not appear diminished. They persist in their 

 course, in spite of every obstacle ; and if prevented 

 from proceeding, they either by assiduity surmount 

 it, or die in the attempt. Their march is mostly in 



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