228 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



each other by a lengthened and reiterated cry, not unlike 

 that of the Quail, and which may be heard at half a Ger- 

 man mile distance ; when exerting their voice, they stretch 

 out the neck in the manner of the dog. They cry but 

 seldom during day, and then only in tempestuous weather. 

 In winter they form, on the grass beneath the snow, small 

 avenues, the more easily to procure their food, which con- 

 sists of grain, leaves, small branches, and tender bark. In 

 summer they select leaves and succulent plants ; but, at 

 times, during the severity of winter, they are reduced to the 

 necessity of feeding on the dung of large herbivorous qua- 

 drupeds, as the horse and sheep: often situated far re- 

 moved from water, they have nothing in common, but the 

 dew for drink; but if they have the opportunity they drink 

 rather frequently. They are very cleanly, and particular in 

 depositing their own excrement in heaps, near the entrance 

 of their burrow, which frequently betrays their place of 

 refuge to the hunters. 



The female brings five or six at a time ; the young are 

 born with the eyes closed, and the skin naked and blackish, 

 but the fur appears about the sixth day, and their subse- 

 quent growth is extremely rapid. When touched, and also 

 at the approach of the mother, the young ones utter a cry 

 similar to that of young birds. 



These animals generally lead a solitary life ; but no ani- 

 mal is more gentle in its disposition, or more ready to 

 associate with man. Pallas states, that their fears on cap- 

 tivity will abate in a day, and that they will then almost 

 immediately become tame. 



When sitting, the body of this animal is nearly rolled 

 into a ball ; if placed in the hollow of the hand, it fills up 

 the whole concavity; but it sleeps with the body stretched on 

 the ground, and the eyes reclined backward. It moves by 

 little leaps ; but as its legs, especially those behind, are 

 very short, its motions are neither very light nor active, and 



