ORDER RODENTIA. 167 



accidents of their existence. Inequality seems necessarily, 

 in the state of things around us, to generate tyranny, and 

 the world would very soon be left in possession of a very 

 few whose physical powers were indomitable, did not 

 Providence interfere in an endless variety of modes in fa- 

 vour of its weaker creatures. 



These interferences, when employed through the instru- 

 mentality of instinct, are at once striking and inexplicable. 

 They never seem unnecessarily or prodigally brought into 

 action ; but, on the contrary, are ever essential to the con- 

 tinuation of a race ; — but when employed, their perfection 

 generally outstrips the utmost refinement of reason. This 

 indeed may be explained in the words of the poet : 



Reason raise o'er Instinct as you can, 



In this 'tis God directs, in that 'tis Man. 



The burrow of the Marmot is generally in the elevated 

 parts of the southern European mountains, above the limits 

 of the forest, and in the regions of perpetual snow. It is 

 formed of an alley or gallery five or six feet long, sufficient 

 only in size to permit the animal to pass ; at the extremity 

 of this alley is a circular excavation, in which the Marmot 

 retires, and hybernates ; sometimes the circular cave has two 

 outlets, forming an acute angle like the letter Y. An ex- 

 cavation is said always to be found in one of the alleys, 

 which is presumed to be made by the animal, in procuring 

 earth to stop the mouth of the burrow previous to its en- 

 tering on its long winter sleep. The commencement of 

 their lethargy seems to depend on the beginning of the cold, 

 which varies from the middle of September to the middle 

 of October — the newly-formed families then begin their ex- 

 cavations, and provide dried grass to lie on. M. F. Cuvier 

 informs us that they make a spherical bundle of this dry 

 grass, and press it into a state of tolerable consistency, and 



