462 



THE LEMMING. 



selves, an event which occurs in a wonderfully short time, they leave the maternal home, and 

 dig separate burrows. 



The strangest part of the Hamster's character is its dull, unreasoning ferocity, which is 

 utterly incapable of comprehending danger, and causes the animal to attack any kind of oppo- 

 nent, whether animate or not. An irritated Hamster will tly upon a dog, a man, or a horse, 

 without the least hesitation. If a cart were to crush it, it would try to bite the wheel ; if a 

 stone were to roll over it, it would turn upon the lifeless stone ; threaten it with a stick, and it 

 fastens upon the senseless weapon with malign fury ; and when opposed by a bar of iron nearly 

 red hot, it has been known to grasp the burning metal in its teeth, and to retain its hold in spite 

 of the pain which it must have suffered. This combative disposition leads it to fight desper- 

 ately with its own species, caring nothing 

 for sex or age ; and it has actually hap- 

 pened that when a pair of these animals 

 have been placed together in a cage, the 

 male has been killed and partly eaten by 

 his disconsolate widow. 



The food of this animal is chiefly vege- 

 table, but is varied, by animal diet, such 

 as worms, insects, mice, small birds, lizards, 

 frogs, and other such vermin. It is a noc- 

 turnal animal, and achieves its robberies 

 under cover of the darkness of night. It 

 can hardly be termed a true hibernating 

 animal, as it is quite lively for a consider- 

 able portion of the winter, feeding on its 

 ample stores for nearly two months, and be- 

 coming very fat by the combined influence 

 of inactivity and good feeding. Through 

 a portion of the winter it becomes torpid, 

 but awakes early in the spring, ready to 

 renew its depredations in the fields. During 

 the spring and summer months its food con- 

 sists chiefly of leaves and various herbage. 



At uncertain and distant intervals of 

 time, many of the northern parts of Europe, 

 such as Lapland, Norway, and Sweden, 

 are subjected to a strange invasion. Hundreds of little dark, mouse-like animals sweep over 

 the land, like clouds of locusts suddenly changed into quadrupeds, coming from some unknown 

 home, and going no one knows whither. These creatures are the Lemmings, and their sudden 

 appearances are so entirely mysterious, that the Norwegians look upon them as having been 

 rained from the clouds upon the earth. 



Driven onwards by some overpowering instinct, these vast hordes travel in a straight line, 

 permitting nothing but a smooth perpendicular wall or rock to turn them from their course. 

 If they should happen to meet with any living being, they immediately attack, knowing no 

 fear, but only urged by undiscriminating rage. Any river or lake they swim without hesita- 

 tion, and rather seem to enjoy the water than to fear it. If a stack or a corn-rick should 

 stand in their way, they settle the matter by eating their way through it, and will not be 

 turned from their direct course even by fire. The country over which they pass is utterly 

 devastated by them, and it is said that cattle will not touch the grass on which a Lemming 

 has trodden. 



These migrating hosts are accompanied by clouds of predaceous birds, and by many pre- 

 daceous quadrupeds, who find a continual feast spread for them as long as the Lemmings 

 are on their pilgrimage. While they are crossing the rivers or lakes, the fish come in for their 



THE LEMMING.— Myodes lemmus. 



