222 
GENERAL REMARKS 
In Finmark and throughout Norway arc found immenfe num¬ 
bers of mice, called by the Laplanders lemmick, which are the prey 
of both birds and beads. It is a received opinion amongd the Lap¬ 
landers, that thefe mice drop down from the clouds ; a falfe no¬ 
tion, which appears to have been conceived from the circumdance 
of many having been obferved to fall from on high, no doubt car¬ 
ried off by birds which have been forced to loofe them from their 
claws, owing to the vivacity of the little animal’s druggies to ob¬ 
tain its liberty. 
Notwithdanding the rigour of this climate, it is obfervable that 
animals, wild as well as tame, are here remarkably prolific. The 
ewes often bring twins twice a year, and the fhe-goats produce 
condantly two kids, and fometimes three at a birth. 
Many birds are to be met with in Lapland, which have not yet 
been difcovered elfewhere, hence the epithet Lapponicus generally 
denotes fome rare fpecies peculiar only to that part of the world. 
Of this defcription is the jcolopex Lapponicus, or the Lapland wood¬ 
cock, which has a beak turned up at the end. It is pretty com¬ 
mon in the bogs of Lapland, though it is not known to inhabit, 
or to vidt other countries : yet it is certain, that this bird is only 
there during the fummer, and that it migrates to fome other cli¬ 
mate in the winter ; but where that is, remains a problem. The 
hidorical part of ornithology is dill very imperfect, nor can it be 
expected to advance rapidly, as the information mud be collected 
by degrees, and abdracded from accidental obfervations. “ It would 
“ be necedary,” days BufFon, “ to follow the birds every where. 
“ and 
