44 R. COLLETT. 
exile, drives them into dangers which they seldom, or never, 
understand how to avoid. 
By nature they are, as is generally known, of a choleric 
disposition. All opposition arouses their wrath, and this generally | 
leads to their ruin. Instead of lying hidden when å person or å 
dog approaches, they often make themselves known by their bark- 
ing sounds, which betray them, and place them in peril of their 
lives. They often attempt to defend themselves against the per- 
son who hunts them; wbile so doing they stand on their hind 
legs, and let their cry be heard with great intensity. They 
vieiously drive their sharp teeth into the foot, or the stick ad- 
vanced towards them, and allow themselves to be lifted high-up 
by their teeth without loosening their hold, or they endeavour 
to run up ones” clothing? 
As a rule, however, they try to save themselves by hasty 
[No8 


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flight, and it is, chiefly, when in the unaccustomed surroundings 
of their exile, that they become quite frenzied. It is constantly 
stated by eye-witnesses that, while in that condition, they can die 
from their great excitement. 
If one does not further approach the irritated animal, its 
rage declines as rapidly as it rose, and it will again seek safety 
in rapid flight. 
If several live individuals are placed together in a cage, 
they will speedily take to fighting each other, and, as å rule, 
after a short time only the strongest will be left. 
Numerous attempts have been made to keep lemmings alive 
in captivity, but almost invariably without success. Mr. Duppa 
Croteh, however, states, tbat he has succeded in keeping them * 
in captivity for two years (in Heimdalen, Gudbrandsdal)”. 


1 SEt si baculo tangantur, dmtibus mordicus adeo eum arripiant, ut se per 
aliquod spacium trahi hoc pacto permittant” (Olaus Wormius, Historia 
animalis, &. Hafniæ 1653, p. 6). 
2 Nature, Jan. 92, p. 295. 

