1382 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 
2.] 8. Arvicora (Grorycuus) Hupsonius. Hudson’s Bay Lemming. 
Mus Hudsonius. Forster, Phil. Trans., xii. p. 379. Parxas, Glir., p. 208. Lin. GMEL., 137, 
Hudson’s rat. PENNant, Quadr., vol. ii. p. 201. Arctic Zoology, vol. i. p. 132. 
Hare-tailed Mouse. Hrarne, Journ., p. 387. 
Lemmus Hudsonius. Carrarn SaBine, Parry's First Voy., Suppl, p. clxxxv. Mr. Sanine, Franklin's 
Journ., p. G61. Dict. des Sciences Nat., tom. viii. p. 566. Harian, Fawna, p. 146. 
Arvicola Hudsonia. Ricuarpson, Parry’s Second Voy., App., p. 308. 
Hudson’s Bay Lemming. Gopman, Nat, Hist., vol. ii. p. 73. 
Spec. 107 a. Bririso MusEum. 
A. Georycuus (Hudsonius) exauriculatus, unguibus duobus anticis intermediis maximis compressis bi-mucronatis, 
(mucrone uno super alterum). 
Hudson’s Bay Lemming, earless, with two middle claws of the fore-feet unusually large, compressed, their very blunt 
extremity being rendered double by a deep transverse notch. 
This curious animal was first described by Forster, from a mutilated specimen, 
and afterwards more fully by Pallas, who received a number of its skins from 
Labrador, one of which he sent to Pennant. A specimen, preserved in the 
Museum du Roi, at Paris, is described in the Dict. des Sciences, and there is an 
excellent specimen in the British Museum. 
We did not meet with this lemming in the interior of America, and I believe it 
has hitherto been found only near the sea. It inhabits Labrador, Hudson’s Straits, 
and the coast from Churchill to the extremity of Melville Peninsula, as well as the 
islands of the Polar sea, visited by Captain Parry. Its habits are still imperfectly 
known. In summer, according to Hearne, it burrows under stones, in dry ridges, 
and Captain Sabine informs us that in winter it resides in a nest of moss on the 
surface of the ground, rarely going abroad. The former author likewise acquaints. 
us that it is very inoffensive, and so easily tamed, that if taken even when full 
grown, it will in a day or two be perfectly reconciled, very fond of being handled, 
and will creep of its own accord into its master’s neck or bosom. 
DESCRIPTION. 
The body is thick, the head short and rounded, nose obtuse, eyes very small, and there are 
no exterior ears. The legs are short, and the tail is so short, that only the stiff hairs of its end 
project beyond the fur of the hips. The upper incisors are whitish, curved, flat anteriorly, 
and have even cutting edges. The lower ones are a little longer and more slender. The fur 
is remarkably fine and pretty long, blackish-gray from the roots to the tips, which are on the 
dorsal aspect white, dark brown and black. The result is a beautiful mottling of these 
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