DON COSSACKS. 
329 
Other animals common in the steppes are f 
wolves and bears; also a quadruped called * — - 
Biroke, of a grey colour, something like a wolf, ThcjNre*e. 
very ferocious, and daring enough to attack 
men. The Cossack peasants, armed with their 
lances, sally forth, on horseback, in pursuit of 
this animal. It has a long full tail, reaching to 
the ground. From the accounts given of it by 
the peasants, we suspected it to be the same 
animal described by Professor Pallas, as found 
in the environs of Astrackan, under the appel- 
lation Chakal, and said to be between a wolf 
and a dog; but whether it be the same kind 
of Jackal which is found in Syria and in 
Egypt, or not, we did not learn. 
The most numerous of all the quadrupeds of n ie smiic. 
the steppes, the whole way from Woronetz to 
Tcherkask, are the Suslics : by this name they 
are called throughout the country. Near the 
course of the Don, they absolutely swarm, and 
may be taken in any number. This interesting 
little animal is supposed to be the Mus dtilhis 
of Buffon ; and a description of it will now 
prove whether this be really the case or not. 
It makes a whistling noise, like the suroke; but 
it is much smaller, not being larger than a 
small weazel. It constructs its habitation under 
