440 THE ECONOMIC RAT. 



at times, they bring them out of their cells to give 

 them a more thorough drying in the sun. The 

 chief labour is performed by the females *. — They 

 associate in pairs ; and except during the summer 

 (when the male leads a solitary life in the woods), 

 the male and female are generally both to be found 

 in the same nest. 



The migrations of these animals are not less ex- 

 traordinary than those of the Lemming. Both Dr. 

 Grieve and Mr. Pennant have mentioned those of 

 the Kamtschatka Economic Rats, but neither of 

 them attempt to explain the cause. In the spring,, 

 says the former writer, they collect together in 

 amazing numbers, and proceed in a direct course 

 westward ; swimming with the utmost intrepidity 

 over rivers, lakes, and even arms of the sea. Many 

 are drowned, and many destroyed by vi^ater-fowl or 

 rapacious fish. Those that escape, on emerging 

 from the water, rest awhile to bask, dry their fur, 

 and refresh themselves. The Kamtschadales^ who 

 liaye a kind of superstitious veneration for these 

 little animals, whenever they find any of them 

 thrown upon the banks of the rivers, weak and ex- 

 hausted, render them every possible assistance. As 

 soon as tliCy have crossed the river Penschinska, at 

 the head of the gulph of rbe same name, they turn 

 in a south-westerly direction ; and, about the middle 

 of July, generally reach the rivers Ochotska and Ju- 

 doma — a distance of about a thousand miles ! The 

 ■flocks are also so numerous, that travellers have 



* Giicve, \Wh. 



