ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
67 
is known of it. He says it is frequently seen at high tide,* 
sitting on floating reeds in the marshes, patiently waiting for 
the receding of the waters. It is peculiar to the extreme 
Southern States. 
The Hairy Campagnol (. Arvicola Hispidus) was also 
discovered by Ord in East Florida, and is known nowhere 
else ; it is sometimes called the cotton rat, from its nest 
being made entirely of cotton. 
The Wood-Rat (Mus Floridanus) is found throughout the 
South-western States. Bartram thus describes its nest : “ It 
builds a conical pillar three or four feet high, of brush and 
dry woods, so interwoven that it would take a bear or wildcat 
so long to pull it to pieces as would enable it and its young to 
escape. It is supposed to have been once common, but to 
have given place to the black rat.” In Mississippi and Flo- 
rida it takes to the houses of the settlers as eagerly as the 
common rat. It is not known now in the Atlantic States or 
in Lower .Canada. 
The Lemming (Mus Hudsonicus) differs from the European 
lemming only in habits, by not migrating in bodies. This 
may be accounted for by some peculiarity in the soil ; and 
its stock of food probably never failing here as in Europe, it is 
not compelled to tend its course southwards in search of suste- 
nance. It is met with in the northern part of the Hudson 
Bay territory. 
Of the Rat tribe, we find everywhere the common pest (Mus 
decumanus ), probably so named from his decimating or taking 
tithe of everything that falls in his way. This rat is not indige- 
nous, but imported from Europe, coming originally from Asia. 
The graphic character given it by Dr. Godman, will not be 
disputed by any who are acquainted with it. “ It must be 
confessed,” he says, u that this rat is one of the veriest 
scoundrels in the brute creation, though it is a misfortune 
in him rather than a fault, since he acts solely in obedi- 
ence to the impulses of his nature. He is by no means as 
