56 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



THE MARMOT (Mm Alpinus). 



Its Shape and Outline and where to find it. In shape, 

 outline, and size this animal is like a big rabbit, but lower and 

 with a broader back. Its hair is coarser than that of a rabbit, of 

 a reddish color, darker in some places and lighter in others. It 

 has big eyes, placed above the cheek-pouches. In its mouth are 

 long, yellow teeth, much like those of a beaver, two above and 

 two below. The length of its tail is two hands or more. It has 

 short, thick, hairy feet, like those of a bear, with long, black nails, 

 which enable it to dig deeply into the earth. While the rest of 

 the body is lean, the back is fat, although this fat is not real fat, 

 but something between fat and meat, like the substance of the 

 udder of the cow. This animal is found only on the very highest 

 tops of the Alps. The widely known Dr. Conrad Gesner has 

 himself traveled in these regions and observed its habits. 



Its Nature and Properties. While playing and frolicking 

 together the marmots make a noise not unlike that of a cat, but 



when they are angry 

 or wish to warn each 

 other of a change in 

 the weather, their cry 

 is sharp and penetrat- 

 ing, and very dis- 

 agreeable to the ear 

 of man, like the noise 

 of a highly pitched 

 small flute. On ac- 

 count of their offen- 

 sive voice they are 

 often called manure- 

 barkers. 



This animal some- 

 times walks on its two 

 hind legs. It uses its 

 fore paws like hands, 

 grasping its food with 

 them, like a squirrel, 

 and eating while it 

 sits on its hind legs. It eats not only fruit, but many other things, 

 such as bread, cheese, meat, fish, and nuts, especially when accus- 

 tomed to them in captivity. It prefers milk and cheese above all 

 other food, and it is often caught by the peasants in the milk 

 cellars, where it is easily discovered by the noise it makes in 

 drinking the milk, like a young pig. 



It is a drowsy animal, sleeping often and long. It makes its 



Fig. 9. 



