130 CLASS MAM?^IALIA. 



produces effects apparently far surpassing the extent of its 

 powers. It penetrates everywhere. It pierces walls and 

 displaces pavements; and, as the Surmulots generally unite 

 in great numbers, when they enter a habitation, they even 

 put the foundation of it in considerable danger. They eat 

 animal and vegetable substances indifferently ; grains, roots, 

 and flesh ; and though portions of such provisions are con- 

 stantly found at the bottom of their burrows, yet they lay 

 up no store, at least when they inhabit our dwellings. 

 Buffon says that the old males remain in the country during 

 the winter, and fill their burrows with acorns, fyc, which 

 would lead us to suppose that their instinctive propensities 

 varied according to circumstances. But this would be a 

 phenomenon so extraordinary, as to require a very com- 

 plete and distinct authentication. They make use of their 

 fore feet in eating, and drink much, lapping with their 

 tongues. They bring forth many times in the year, and 

 generally from eight to twelve at a birth. When they are 

 annoyed in their establishments by men or animals, they 

 remove, and sometimes emigrate to a considerable distance. 

 The habitation they then choose for their retreat is in con- 

 siderable jeopardy. If they are very numerous, it is likely 

 to be overturned. Towards the middle of the sixteenth 

 century, they were observed for the first time in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Paris, and M. P. Cuvier assures us that in 

 some of the departments of France they are yet unknown. 

 Pallas tells us that they arrived at Astracan in the autumn 

 of 1727, in such numbers, and in so short a time, that 

 nothing could be done to oppose them. They came from 

 the western desert, and transversed the waves of the 

 Volga, which unquestionably must have swallowed up a 

 part of their horde. They have not advanced any further 

 to the North, and are not to be found in Siberia. 



The general colour of this animal is a darkish-gray fawn 

 above, and a pale-gray below. The tail is scaly, i, e. 



