454 ROD EAT I A 



natives of the Oriental region, except that one of Scvuropterus is found 

 in North America, and another in Siberia and Eastern Europe. 



Eupetaurus. 1 — Externally as in Pteromys, except that the claws 

 are less sharp. Skull with a more produced muzzle than in the 

 latter, more distinct supraorbital notches, longer anterior palatal 

 foramina, and a shorter bony palate. Cheek-teeth differing from 

 those of all other Sciuridce in their hypsodont character. One large 

 species (E. cinereus), from Gilgit and adjacent districts on the 

 extreme north-west of Kashmir territory. This fine Flying Squirrel 

 is chiefly known by one entire specimen and some imperfect skins. 



Extinct Genera. — The genera Pseudosciurus and Sciuroides, from 

 the Upper Eocene of Europe, have the molar teeth more elongated 

 than in Sciurus. Gymnoptychus with p i from the North American 

 Miocene, approximates in the structure of its molars to Tamias. 

 Meniscomys (p f ), from the latter deposits, together with Sciurodon 

 of the French Phosphorites, are regarded as Squirrels showing signs 

 of affinity with the Ha/plodontidce. 



Subfamily Aretomyinse. — Incisors not compressed; typically 

 the form stout, and the tail comparatively short. This subfamily 

 comprises burrowing forms which may be collectively known as 

 Marmots ; as already mentioned, they are so intimately connected 

 with the preceding subfamily that the division into two groups is 

 purely a matter of convenience. They are confined to the Palae- 

 arctic and Nearctic regions. 



Arctomy's. 2 — External form stout and heavy, ears short, tail 

 short and hairy, cheek-pouches rudimentary or absent. Fore feet 

 with four well-developed digits, and a rudimentary pollex provided 

 with a flat nail. Skull (Fig. 198) large and heavy, with the post- 

 orbital process stout, and at right angles to the axis. Incisors 

 broad and powerful. First upper premolar nearly as large as the 

 second. Molar series nearly parallel, scarcely converging behind 

 at all. 



The various species of true Marmot, which exceed a dozen in 

 number, are all much alike in general appearance, ranging in size 

 from about 15 to 25 inches in length, with tails from 3 to 12 inches 

 long. 



The Alpine Marmot (Fig. 201) is peculiar to Europe, being 

 found in the Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathians ; its remains occur in 

 European Pleistocene deposits. A. bobac occurs in Eastern Europe 

 and Siberia. Several species (e.g. A. monax, Fig. 198) are found 

 in the Nearctic region, and many in Kashmir and Central Asia. 

 The long-tailed Ked Marmot (A. cavdatus) is a fine Himalayan 

 species, Avhich may be seen on the mountain passes to the north of 

 the valley of Kashmir, as soon as the snow begins to disappear, 



1 0. Thomas, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, vol. lvii. p. 256 (1888). 

 " Schreber, Sdugctlihir, vol. iv. p. 721 (1792). 



