In Finmark and throughout Norway are found immenfe numbers
of mice, called by the Laplanders lemmick, which are the prey
of both birds and beads. It is a received opinion amongd the Laplanders,
th a t thefe mice drop down from the clouds ; a falfe notion,
which appears to have been conceived from the circumftance
of many having been obferved to fall from on high, no doubt carried
off by birds which have been forced to loofe them from their
claws, owing to the vivacity of the little animal’s druggies to obtain
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 ihe-goats produce
conllantly 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.
O f this defcription is the jcolopex Lapponicus, ox the Lapland woodcock,
which has a beak turned up at the end. It is pretty common
in the bogs of Lapland, though it is not known to inhabit,
or to vifit other countries : yet it is certain, that this bird is only
there during the fummer, and that it migrates to fome other climate
in the winter ; but where that is, remains a problem. The
hiilorical part of ornithology is ffill very imperfedt, nor can it be
expected to advance rapidly, as the information muff be colledled
by degrees, and abllradted from accidental obfervations. “ It would
“ be neceffary,” fays Buffon, “ to follow the birds every where,
“ and
“ and to begin with afcertaining the principal circumitances of
“ their paffage : to become acquainted with the diredtion they
** take, their reding places, and their abode in every climate ; and
“ to obferve them in all thofe didant quarters. I t will therefore
“ be the work of time, and require the attention of many fucceed-
“ ing ages, to be able to form as accurate notions refpedting the
“ birds, as we are in poffedion of with regard to the quadrupeds.
“ To accompliih this undertaking, there ought to be condant
“ obfervers in every country where the birds fojourn; becaufe it is
“ impoffible for a traveller, who merely paffes through, to bedow
H fiifficient time and care upon every thing that ought to be
“ taken into confideration.” It is probable th a t the Lapland
woodcock may, in his journey, keep a diredlion through unculti-
veted countries, at lead through luch as are not inhabited by
people that might be led to obierve, or be able to communicate,
the hidory of that bird. It feems highly probable, that in winter
they frequent the milder climate of Chinele Tartary, or the
iouthern parts of Afiatic Ruffia; and that in fummer they pals
into Lapland by the way of Ruffian Tartary, or of Siberia and
Archangel.
T he only birds that day in Lapland during the winter, are the
Jirix and the tetrao. All the aquatic birds are by the ice compelled
to change their habitation ; and of the others which are feen
there, the greated number only come for the purpofe of breeding.
And furely in no country could thefe birds enjoy more tranquillity,
and carry on their amorous intercourfe with greater peace
1 and