ib'6 FAUNA AMERICANA. 



Incisors very strong, anterior face rounded ; 

 the inferior slightly compressed; molars simple, 

 their crowns presenting ridges and blunt tuber- 

 cles ; the anterior and internal one is most pro- 

 jecting ; body thick and clumsy ; head large, flat 

 above, without pouches for the most part ; eyes 

 large; ears short and rounded; feet robust, those 

 before terminated by four distinct toes and a rudi- 

 ment of a thumb ; the posterior live-toed ; nails 

 of all the feet strong, compressed, and slightly 

 hooked. 



Tail hairy, moderate, or short. 



Habit. Burrowing; living in societies more or 

 less numerous, becoming lethargic during the cold 

 season ; feeding on vegetables during the summer; 

 becoming excessively fat; when tamed, they are 

 sufficiently docile ; and one species at least, (Mo- 

 nax) was never observed to eat animal food. 



Inhabit both continents, some preferring north- 

 ern and elevated countries. 



Species. 

 1. Arctomys moncix, Gmel. Schreb. tab. 208. 

 JMonax, Edwards, av. vol. ii. p. 104. Maryland 

 Marmot, Penn. Quad. p. 270. N. 1 78. Glis monax, 

 Erxleb. Le Monax, ou Marmotte du Canada, 

 Buff. Cimicidus bahamensis, Catesby, Carolin. 

 p. 79. tab. 79. Wood-chuck, in Maryland. Ground- 

 hog, in Pennsylvania. 



Cfiar. Essent, Brown above ; paler on the sides 



