238 Mammals of Eastern Asia 
tail is short. The number of nipples, depending upon species, 
varies from 8 to 12. The Marmots are hibernators. The typical 
species is Marmota marmota of the Alps of Europe. 
Of the several species groups, one, caligata, is represented in 
northwestern North America, Alaska, and Siberia. A second, 
bobak, extends from central Europe to the Himalayas, Szech- 
wan, and Transbaikalia. 
The Hoary Marmots, Marmota caligata of Alaska, are 
represented by M. c. camtschatica of Kamchatka and M. c. 
bungei of the Verhoyansk Mountains, as well as races in the 
Baikal area and in Yakutsk. The Siberian Hoary Marmots are 
found also near Gichiga and on the Kolyma River. 
The upperparts are rich buffy with a whitish grizzle, the head 
black on top, the sides of the face whitish, the underparts dull 
white. The tail is buffy on top, tipped with brown, beneath 
darker brown. The hands and feet are blackish brown, whence 
the name caligata, meaning ' 'booted.' ' The length of the head 
and body varies from 27 to 28 inches, tail 7% to 8% inches, 
hind foot 3% to 4 inches. 
The Tarbagan Marmot, Marmota bobak, represented in 
Transbaikal and Mongolia by M. b. sibirica, was described by 
Radde as brownish red rather than light yellowish gray; the 
underparts rusty yellow. He mentioned exceptionally pale and 
dark individuals. This is a gregarious Marmot about the size of 
a badger, inhabiting grassy areas and avoiding drier sandy 
wastes. Hibernation lasts from September to March ; from two 
to four animals occupy the especially deep winter burrows. 
Young Marmots are found in July. 
The Himalayan Marmot, Marmota himalayana, spreading 
as a local form, M. h. robusta, into Szechwan, is also a member 
of the bobak group. The color of the back is reddish gray 
mottled with black, fading to reddish yellow beneath. The limbs 
and ears are brownish gray, and the tail and the top of the nose 
are dark brown. The form found in Szechwan has the ears 
bright rufous and the tail tipped with black. There are 6 pairs 
