40 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



It is worthy of notice, also, that in the Bears of the Old as 

 well as the New World, is found the curious phenomenon of the 

 " tappen," a hard concreted substance, which plugs up the intes- 

 tine, and seems to be of service in retaining the animal in 

 condition. In Scandinavia, where the Bears of both sexes 

 retire to winter quarters, and remain in their hidden recesses for 

 five full months, the tappen is very seldom cast until the animal 

 leaves its den. In the rare instances where such an event has 

 happened, the Bear is said to have become miserably thin and 

 weak. Full particulars of the tappen and the hibernating habits 

 of the Brown Bear may be found in Lloyd's " Field Sports of 

 Northern Europe." 



There are other animals which burrow under the snow, 

 though they do so for the sake of finding food, and not of form- 

 ing a habitation. Several of the Arvicolae, or field-mice of 

 North America, are in the habit of driving long tunnels under 

 the snow in search of food, and are so successful in this curious 

 mode of foraging that they in general become quite fat during 

 the winter months, when every green leaf has fallen, and every 

 herb is covered with a thick mantle of snow. 



From a work of this character, so remarkable an animal as 

 the PiCHiciAGO ought not to be omitted. Its scientific name is 

 Chlamyphorus truncatus, and is very happily chosen, as will 

 presently be seen. 



The Pichiciago is not larger than an ordinary mole, and in 

 its general habits somewhat resembles that animal. The shape 

 of its body sufficiently indicates its burrowing propensities, and 

 the view of the skeleton confirms the aspect of its outward 

 form. The bones of the fore legs are short, thick, and arched in 

 that manner which is so indicative of great muscular power, and 

 even those of the hind legs are remarkably strong in proportion 

 to the size of the animal. The fore paws are enormously large, 

 palm-shaped, and furnished with five strong, curved, and com- 

 pressed claws, so as to form admirable digging instruments. 

 The snout is rather long and pointed, and, as in the mole, the eyes 

 are very small, and hidden under the soft dense fur. 



It is a native of Chili, and seems to be of rare occurrence, 

 tliough it may probably bo more plentiful than is generally 



