io8 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



not know. It may have occurred either from accident or 

 design. The vvoodchuck is supposed to dig with his head 

 toward the part he is to excavate. But, as we shall see, he is 

 capable, after located in his hole or runway or a part of it, of 

 facing toward the moulh of the hole, and forcing up the dirt 

 from around him and placing it in front of him. Possibly, 

 the marmot, in digging the east entrance, viz.: at B, dug part 

 of the time with his face toward the east edge of the hole, 

 and part of the time with his face toward the west edge 

 thereof. Sand thus thrown out would be then lodged at both 

 edges, as I found it. 



As is natural with almost any class of diggers, that portion 

 of the runway at each entrance, which continued farther in 

 there served as the roof, is more perpendicular than that por- 

 tion which continued on as the floor or bottom of the way. 

 The runways rapidly narrow in both diameters, and as they 

 reach that portion of the way which is substantiall}- hori- 

 zontal, they are of a size to allow an adult marmot to readily 

 pass through. No arrangements appear to be made for two 

 marmots happening in one runway, either by accident or 

 design, and coming toward the center from the opposite 

 entrances to pass, unless the part now to be described is 

 utilized for such purpose. 



The runway runs from entrance A, east by north, for forty- 

 three inches to a ; thence runs north-east by east for thirty- 

 one inches, and then turning at an angle runs east by south 

 for twenty-two inches to C, whence it resumes the general 

 direction of east by north. It is interesting to note how 

 straight the general direction of the runway is, and how the 

 general direction, east by north, is resumed after passing 

 point C, and continued in substantial alignment with the 

 part A to a. 



The point in the way, which is deepest below the surface, 

 is at C, viz. : thirty- one inches. At the ])oint B. the highest 

 and consequently the driest point in the bottom of the run- 

 way, is an offset recess, probably serving the purpose of a lair 

 or nest in connection with the runway, the lair proper, exclu- 

 sive of the runway, being only six inches deep. The entire 

 length of the runway (exclusive of lair) is fourteen feet, 

 eleven inches. 



