FAUNA AMERICANA. 159 



and under the belly ; snout bluish-gray and black- 

 ish ; tail about half the length of the body, covered 

 with blackish hairs. 



Dimensions. Total length from fifteen to 

 eighteen inches. 



Description. Body clumsy, low set; snout rather 

 longer than in the Marmot properly so called ; ears 

 rounded ; nails long and sharp; colour ferruginous- 

 brown, less deep on the flanks and inferior parts 

 of the back, bluish-gray about the snout ; tail 

 covered with blackish hairs. 



Habit. The ground-hog digs deep holes in 

 clover fields, or on the sides of hills, or under 

 rocks in the woods in the neighbourhood of fields ; 

 these holes are deep and slanting, generally con- 

 sisting of several compartments, with one or more 

 entrances; they pass the winter in a state of 

 lethargy ; feed on herbs and fruits, but delight in 

 clover, of which they destroy immense quantities; 

 the female produces five or six at a birth : when 

 tamed, they become sufficiently docile, and never 

 eat animal food; when intercepted from their 

 holes, they prefer giving battle to a dog rather 

 than attempt to effect their escape by retreating; 

 they are more than a match for a dog a size larger 

 than themselves. 



Inhabit North America ; abound in the middle 

 states. The above remarks are made from an indi- 

 vidual that lived perfectly tame for several months. 



