228 NATCGRAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

the size of the common rat; it has a long and slender
nose; no external ears; and very small eyes; the tail is
compressed sideways, and its hind feet are webbed; it is of
a dusky colour; the belly is of a light ash. It is a native of
Lapland and Russia, in the former of which countries it is
called the Desman; it frequents the banks of rivers, and feeds
on small fish, The Hudson’s Bay lemming is covered by
very fine soft and long hair of an ash colour. In winter it is
white. The limbs are quite short and the fore feet being
formed for burrowing, are very strong. The Lapland lemming
resembles the preceding and is remarkable for its extensive
migrations. When a severe winter is approaching, the lem-
mings migrate southward, and move in a straightforward
direction with such inflexible regularity, that, sooner than
deviate from it, they will perish in attempting to pass, over
any obstacle which they may find in their way. The pouched
rat belongs to America and is found in Florida, Georgia, and
Missouri. It is brown in colour and lives in burrows under
ground. The cheek pouches are external and are said to
be used for the purpose of carrying food and also of removing
sand loosened in the process of burrowing.
The The hamster is a curious little rat-like animal
Hamster. of the thrifty kind, that lays up store in the
summer for winter use. It lives in burrows which it connects
with various apartments, used as storehouses for food. On
the approach of the cold weather it closes the entrance to
jits burrow, and makes a nest of straw in which it sleeps,
becoming torpid in extreme cold.
Bwarms of The rapidity with which rats multiply, makes
Rats. them troublesome and unpleasant neighbours. In
the vicinity of the horse slaughter-houses at Montfaucon,
near Paris, some years ago, they had become so numerous
that the proposal to remove the slaughter houses was
opposed on the ground of the danger that would accrue to
the inhabitants from the rats being deprived of their means