THE LEMMING RAT. 34^' 



They seem to be endowed with a power distin- 

 guishing the approach of severe weather ; for before 

 the setting in of a cold winter they leave their haunts 

 in the above countries, and emigrate in immense mul- 

 titudes southwards toivards Sweden, always endea- 

 vouring to keep a direct line. These emigrations take 

 place at uncertain intervals, though generally about 

 once every ten years : and, exposed as the travellers are 

 1-0 attack, they of course become the food of all the 

 predacious animals. Multitudes also are destroyed 

 in endeavouring to swim over the rivers or lakes. 

 From these different causes, very few of them live 

 to return to their native mountains ; and thus a 

 check is put to their ravages, as an interval of seve- 

 ral years is necessary to repair their numbers suffici- 

 ently for another invasion. They are bold and 

 fierce, and cveii v/ill attack men and animals if they 

 meet them in their course ; and they bite so hard, 

 as to allow themselves to be caaried to a considerable 

 distance hanging by their teeth, before they will quit 

 their hold *. 



•If they are disturbed or pursued while swimming 

 over a lake, and their phalanx is separated by oars or 

 poles, they will not recede ; but keep swimming di- 

 rectly on, and soon get into regular order again. 

 They have sometimes been known even to endea- 

 vour to board or pass over a vessel. This ara;y of 

 Rats moves chiefly by night, or early in the morn- 

 ing ; and makes, such destruction among the her- 

 bage, that the surface of the ground over wmch 

 ^ J 



* Pontop;)iJan, part ii. 31. Schcffer, 340, 

 Ff 3 



