114 MAMMALIA. 



Barton. Its ap:ilityi?; extreme, and it closes itsolf up within its bnrrow, amlpasses thewinter in a state of iL'thargy. 

 I'he Ger/j//lut; biln-adorins, Uaii., or ^Iti.s labrad., Sabine, constitutes aiiotlier. 



The Hamsters {Cricefus, Cuv.) — 

 Have tcctli nearly similar to tlioso of tlto Ttats-, but tlicir tail is ihort and hairy, ami the t^vo sides 

 of tlieir moiuh are hollnwed (as in certain Monkeys) into sacs or clieek-pouelies, in which they trans- 

 port the grain they collect to their snlnerrntieous abodes. 



The Common Hanii^rter ( Mm: crtcetus, Lin.).— Laro;er than the Rat, of a reddish-;2:ray above, black on the flanks 

 and underneath, with three white spots on eaeli side ; its four feet are white, and there is also a white spot under 

 the throat, and another under the breast ; jsoine individuals are all bhick. This animal, so ac^reeably varieQ:ated in 

 colour, is one of the most hurtful in existence, on account of the ijuantity of ijrain which it hoards up, hlling- ita 

 hole, which is sometimes seven feet in deptli. It is common in all the sandy districts, that extend from the north 

 of Germany to Siberia. The latter country proiluces several smaller sjiecies. 



The Voles [Arvicola, LacciJ.) — 

 Have three grinders almve and below, like the Rats, hut without roots, and \vhieh are each formed of 

 triangular prisms, placed alternately in two lines. [Their incisors (or fu.';l:s), uiihke those of tlie i>re- 

 ceding genera, are rounded, having an oval section.] They requii-e to be subdivided into several 

 groups, \iz. : — 



Thr Muskquash {Fiber, Cuv.; [On'Ia/ra, Laceped.]), — • 

 Which is a Vole -with semi-iiahnated hind-feet, a long, scaly, and compressed tad, of which one species 

 only is well known, — 



The Ondatra, il/(/-y/.■'/'"1'.^7^ or Mush Tint of C^wi^^la. [Caf^tor :ihciicu.';, Lin.; Mus ^/■^(V;rf^'i■, Gm.)— As larire as a 

 Rabbit, and reddish grey [the fur resembhnj^ that of the Beaver]. In winter they construct, on the ice, ahutof eartli, 

 in which several reside toj^ether, passin;]; through a hole in the bottom, for the roots of the Acorns on wnich they 

 feed. WTien the ice closes their holes, they are necessitated to devour one another, i'his habit of budding has 

 induced some authors to refer the Wuskquash to the genub Castor. 



Tlie second subdivision is that of 



The Ordinary Voles {Arvicola, Cuv. ; llypud(2us, Illig.\ — ■ 



The tail of which is hairy, and about the length of the body [or shorter], without webs to the toes. 



The Water Vole {Miis omphibius, Lin.)— A little lar^rer than the Black Rat, and deep gre>ish-brown -, the tail as 

 'ong as the body. Inhabits tlie banks of ditches, and burrows in marshy plains in search of roots; but it swims 

 and dives badly. [This species has been known to occasion much daina;?e, by burrowing into tlie raised lianks of 

 canals : in Uher respects it is quite harmless, except that it lays up a store of potatoes, iS:c., in its ^\ inter retreat, 

 which is placed far from the water. Its ordinary food is p;reen aipiatic herba^fo. A blaek variety is not of 

 uncommon occurreTice, in many parts of Britain.] 



The Alsacian "^^ole {Mas Icrrestrls, Lin.) — Rather smaller than the last, witli a shni-ter tail. It lives under 

 ground like the Mole, preferring elevated fields, where it excavates galleries, and removes the earth to some dis- 

 tance from the opening:. Its maiii^azines, which are principally filled with the roots of the wild carrot cut into two- 

 inch pieces, are fn'i|iiridh two feet in diaun'tcr. [It i>^ not fnimd iu lliiiaiii.] 



^leadow Vole iMu.s ,n-ra!is, Lin.).— Size (tf a Mnuse, reddish asli-cdlnur, tlictai! a little sbnrtrr thr.n the body. It 

 iidiabits burrows iti i he lipids, in w hirli it Imards up grain for llic wintiT. liy nudtiplyin^" r\i'rNsi\cly, it sometimes 

 occasions preat ihiniai;-!'. ['I'lnnT arr -ex r\-i\\ ni'arly allied small tjiroiiran siiories, two nf w hn;h inhabit Britain : 

 that known as A. arra/i.s in tliis country lias the tail vei^ short, and the ears incousjiicuous ; A. jyralenfris or 

 rijiiroJti is redder, with a lorifj^er tail, and more apparent ears ; it is less common than the otlier. Many more exist 

 in Asia and North America, of which it will be sufficient to notice] 



The Economic Vole (Mi/s o'conomicus, Pallas.) — A little darker coloured than the fore:^oinjr» with the tail snli 

 shorter. It inhabits a sort of oven-shaped chamber, placed under the turf, from which issue several narrow and 

 ramifying canals runniuL;" in ^ai inus dinrtinns; other canals communicate with a second cavity, wlierein it 

 amasses its provisions. Fiom all .Siberia. It is thought to have been also found in Switzerlaud and the south of 

 France, particularly in the iintato fields. 



Till: LEMMiNCis {Gi'orycJiiis, 111.; \_L<^i>i)niis, Link] ), — 



Have exceedingly short ears and tail, and fore-feet better adapted for digging. [Iu other respects, 

 they ordy ditferfrnm the Voles in being rather more hea\ily formed.] 



The t\\o lirst s|ie( irs li;i\ i> \\\ e \'ery lll:^tinct nails to their fore-feet, as in the Mole-rats and Melamyds. 



Tlie Scandinavian Lcn-iuiiup; {Mns Icmmiis, Lin.)— A northern species, the size of a Rat, ^vitb fur varic!j;ated blark 

 and yellow : it is very celebrated for its occasional mij^rations in immense bodies. At these periods they are said 

 to march in a straig'ht line, relxardle^s of risers or mountains ; and while no insui'mountablr obstacle impedes their 



