FAUNA AMERICANA. 1C3 



whence it continues in an oblique direction down- 

 wards. A single burrow may have many occu- 

 pants, as many as seven or eight individuals have 

 been observed sitting upon one mound. They 

 delight to sport about the entrance of their bur- 

 rows in pleasant weather ; at the approach of dan- 

 ger they retreat to their dens ; or when its prox- 

 imity is not too immediate, they remain barking, 

 and flourishing their tails on the edges of their 

 holes, or sitting erect to reconnoitre ; when fired 

 upon in this situation they never fail to escape ; 

 if killed, they instantly fall into their burrows, be- 

 yond the reach of the hunter. They pass the 

 winter in a lethargic state, and defend themselves 

 from its rigours by accurately closing up the en- 

 trance of the burrow : they construct for them- 

 selves a very neat globular cell with fine dry 

 grass, with an aperture at top large enough to 

 admit the finger, and so compactly formed, that 

 it misjht almost be rolled over the floor without 

 receiving injury. The burrows are not always 

 equidistant, though they occur usually at intervals 

 of about twenty feet. (Say.) 



These animals would appear to be very inno- 

 cent, as w^e are informed by Gen. Pike, (in his 

 Expedition,) that he has observed " the Marmot^ 

 the Rattle-snake, the Horned frog, {Agama cor- 

 mita, nob.) of which the prairies are full, and the 

 Land turtle, seek refuge in the same hole." He 

 further states that the Indians name this animal 



