224 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



remote evil of starvation, or even the direct means of pro- 

 viding against it by amassing a store of provision, but it is 

 something equivalent to the knowledge that such provision 

 requires preparation for the purpose, and the best and only 

 means of preparing it that is thus displayed to our observa- 

 tion and astonishment. Little as we know of the mode in 

 which this instinct is excited, it is obviously nothing short 

 of the special interposition and care of Providence for His 

 creatures — the agency — the mode of operation — the final 

 causes may be the legitimate objects of inquiry, though 

 these have hitherto eluded as well the scalpel of the ana- 

 tomist as the philosophy of the metaphysician. Invited 

 by almost every species, as it occurs, to enlarge on this 

 subject, we feel it impossible to do so with the hope of ex- 

 plaining that which has hitherto been perfectly inexpli- 

 cable; a future opportunity may, however, lead us into 

 some further observations on this phenomenon of Nature — 

 the instinct and mental faculties of animals ; at present, we 

 shall merely acknowledge the finger of God, as displayed by 

 the unconscious Pika for its own preservation, and pass on. 

 Although well known by the Siberian hunters, this 

 species almost escaped the notice of travellers, till the time 

 of the indefatigable Pallas, who first gives us the details of 

 its description and history. It is known by the name Pika 

 or Peika, which Pallas adopted as specific, though it is now 

 become a generic name by the Tungouse people dwelling 

 beyond Lake Baikal. It has, however, various names 

 among the different northern Asiatic tribes. 



The size of this species is said, by Pallas, to vary consi- 

 derably, though in reference uniformly to its immediate ha- 

 bitat. Thus the largest are those of the Altaic mountains, 

 which are about as big as the Guinea-pig, and weigh up- 

 wards of a pound and a quarter ; those of the Daniria, and 

 the environs of Lake Baikal, are less in size and weight, 

 and the smallest are found beyond the Janisea, near the 



