4o8 THEPHILOSOPHY 



divided Into different apartments, in which the rats depofit ftores of 

 provlfions for fupporting them during the winter. It is worthy of 

 remark that the rats of this country never touch the provifions laid 

 up for the winter, except when they cannot procure nourifhment 

 anywhere elfe. Thefe rats, like the Tartars, change their habitations. 

 Sometimes they totally abandon Kamtfchatka for feveral years, and 

 their retreat greatly alarms the inhabitants, which they confider as a 

 prefage of a rainy feafon, and of a bad year for hunting. The re- 

 turn of thefe animals is, of courfe, looked upon as a good omen. 

 Whenever they appear, the happy news is foon fpread over all parts 

 of the country. They always take their departure In the fpring, 

 when they affembk in prodigious numbers, and traverfe rivers, lakes, 

 and even arms of the fea. After they have made a long voyage, 

 they frequently lie motionlefs on the fhore, as if they were dead. 

 When they recover their ftrength they recommence their march. 

 The inhabitants of Kamtfchatka are very folicitous for the preferva- 

 tlon of thefe animals. They never do the rats any injury, but give 

 them every aflidance when they lie weakened and extended on the 

 ground. They generally return to Kamtfchatka about the month 

 of Odober ; and they are fometimes met with in fuch prodigious 

 numbers that travellers are obliged to ftop two hours till the whole 

 troop paffes. The track of ground they travel in a fingle fummer 

 is not lefs wonderful than the regularity they obferve in their march, 

 and that inftindive impulfe which enables them to forefee, with cer- 

 tainty, the changes of times and of feafons. 



With regard to Birds, their artifices are not lefs numerous nor lefs 

 furprifing than thofe of quadrupeds. The eagle and hawk kinds are 

 remarkable for the ftiarpnefs of their fight and the arts they employ 

 in catching their prey. Their movements are rapid or flow, accor- 

 ding to their intentions, and the fituation of the animals they wifh 

 to devour. Rapacious birds uniformly endeavour to rife higher in 



the 



