rr4 
Meh RY ET oA) eT 
inftantly run into their burrows; and are often feen ftanding upright, 
and looking about them, as if on the watch : and if they {py any body,. 
give a loud whittle, and difappear. 
They are very eafily tamed, and become very fportive and amuf- 
ing; and are very fond of being ftroked and cherifhed. In this 
{tate they will eat grain, and many forts of herbs. In a wild ftate 
they prey on mice, and fmall birds, as well as vegetables. Gwzeliz 
fays, that in Sidiria they inhabit granaries; but I do not find it con- 
firmed by Doétor Pallas. Gmelin adds, that thofe who frequent 
granaries, feek for prey during the whole winter *: as to the others, 
they certainly remain torpid all the fevere feafon, and revive on the 
melting of the fnows. 
They bring forth from three to eight at atime. The young grow 
very quick, and defert the maternal burrows in the fummer. 
Their enemies are all forts of Weefels, which dig them out of their 
holes. More males than females perifh, as the latter are fiercer, 
and defend themfelves much better. During day they are fnatched 
up by hawks and hunery crows. 
In fome places they are taken in fnares, for the fake of their fkins, 
which are ufually fent to China. The Kamt/chatkans make mott ele- 
gant garments and hoods of them; fpecimens of the latter are pre- 
ferved in the Leverian Mufeum. In Sibiria their fleth is efteemed a 
great delicacy, efpecially in autumn, when they are a lump of fat. 
The Rufians call them Suflik ; the Sibirians, Fevrafcha, and Femu- 
ranka; the Kamt/chatkans, Syreth. 
* Koyage en Sidirie, i. 3780 
Borax, 
