ORDER RODENTIA. 225 



town of Krasnogan ; the weight of these last is under six 

 ounces. 



The head resembles that of the Rat, and also of the Pika 

 Pusillus, (the Calling Hare of Pennant,) but it is larger, 

 and not so broad, and the muzzle is less obtuse. 



In order to ascertain the particular plants which the 

 Pikas selected and dried for their winter provision, Pallas 

 examined minutely one of their collections ; they appear to 

 be selected very carefully, to be cut just at the proper 

 period of ripeness, and dried so slowly that they form a 

 fodder both green and succulent ; neither thorns, nor hard 

 or ligneous stems, and even very few flowers, were to be 

 found among it, but a few acid or bitterish herbs are 

 mixed, by way of giving relish to the rest ; small parcels of 

 large leaves seem to be carefully separated from the rest, 

 though kept with the general stock. 



We have already stated that the half-civilized sable 

 hunters, instead of imitating the provident labour of 

 the Pika, appropriate to themselves the fruits of its in- 

 dustry, and leave the poor animals to starvation and death. 

 The life, indeed, of this interesting and laborious species is 

 one of continued danger, "sufferance is the badge of all 

 the tribe," exposed to the privations consequent in high 

 latitudes, and long frosts ; they have also many enemies 

 to dread. If their little stores escape the rapacity of 

 man, they themselves are exposed to the attacks of their 

 carnivorous compatriots, particularly of the Weasel tribe, 

 and are subjected to less acute, but more protracted 

 torments, from the larvae of a species of insects, (CEstrus, 

 Lin.,) lodged under their skin, and living on their very 

 substance: such, says a describer of this animal, such 

 is the common lot of imbecility ; the weak are ceaselessly 

 exposed to every kind of oppression, and their labour, 

 industry, and talents frequently become the sources of 

 evils and persecutions ; they are robbed, abused, and con- 



