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Show 1891.] MR. T. T. SOMERVILLE ON THE LEMMING. 657 every juniper bush and under every suitable rock or big stone were the signs of the Lemmings which had their burrows beneath, and even the towns were full of them. We had no difficulty in catching about a dozen, of which we placed three or four in each of as many empty bird-cages. Next morning all or almost all were dead. Many or most had wounds in the throat. W e repeated our attempts to preserve some, but they either died or were killed by each other. W e were told that, at this season especially, these animals fought desperately, and that the usual result of each combat was the death of both parties. This appeared to be true. Moreover, we were assured that the new grass, with which we supplied our captives, invariably caused the death of all the Lemmings. This belief we have subsequently heard expressed most firmly in every part of the country, and there really seems to be some good reason for it. Iu the case in question the snow was disappearing fast, the new grass was beginning to shoot up, and in a very short time not a living Lemming remained anywhere. It seems that the Lemmings when they reach the coast frequently spend the winter there, but when the spring sets in they all die. Professor Collett, of the Christiania University, cannot accept the theory of the new grass causing the death of the Lemmings, but asserts that this is due to a disease such as always appears when animals multiply to an abnormal extent and which he cannot believe is caused in any way by the grass. In 1887 we again came across some Lemmings on the mountain-plateau beyond the Rjukan Foss, and we secured a couple. These, however, escaped when we were on our way home, by gnawing through the box in which they were placed, and we were unable to get others. Towards the end of June this year we found Lemmings in great force on the mountains around the " Gausdal Sanatorium," a hydropathic establishment situated about 2500 feet above the sea within a day's journey from Christiania. W e were informed that a few weeks earlier there had been hundreds for every one remaining ; and this was easy to believe, for the number of dead bodies was in many places very great. There were, however, still so many that it was scarcely possible to walk for an hour without seeing several. On the 13th of July we secured a Lemming which, although apparently not full-grown, seemed likely to have little ones. She was from the first unusually docile, and appeared much satisfied with the arrangements made for her. W e had thoroughly scraped and washed a cigar-box, lightly filled it with mos^, made an entrance-hole and a couple of ventilators, and fastened down the lid ; this we placed in her box while a more elaborate dwelling was being prepared. Next day, 14th July, when about to transfer the Lemming to the new box, we found that she had given birth to six little ones. These were naked, pink, blind, and very ugly little wretches with hu»-e heads. The moss in the cigar-box had been formed into a sort of round nest, and a quantity of paper, torn to fine shreds, formed the lining, in the centre of which were the young. That day 44* |