SQUIRREL FAMILY 



201 



HOARY MARMOT 

 Marmota caligata {Esclisclioltc) 



Other Names. — Gray Marmot. Whistling Marmot. 



General Description. — Much larger than the Eastern 

 Marmot, or W'oodchuck, but with the same general build 

 and habits. 



Dental Formula. — Same as foregoing. 



Pelage. — Adl'LTS : Sexes identical, no marked sea- 

 sonal variation. General color much lighter than East- 

 ern type. Above, grayish-white, the tips of hairs having 

 pronounced grizzled-whitish tinge. Sides and under- 

 parts shading from grayish-fulvous to black. Young: 

 paler. 



Measurements. — Total length. 29 inches ; tail verte- 

 brae, 7 inches. Weight. 10 pounds. 



Range. — Columbia River northward to the Barren 

 Grounds, east to Hudson Bay. 



Food. — Roots, small plants, seeds, and grain. 



Rel.^ted Species 



Hoary Marmot. — Marmota caligata (Eschscholtz). 

 Typical animal of above description. 



Eastern Marmot. — Mannota iiioini.v iikhiii.v (Lin- 

 naeus). See preceding article. 



Yellow-bellied Marmot. — Marmota flaz'ivculi-r flavi- 

 vcntcr (Audubon and Bachman). Size large, colora- 

 tion much as in Eastern Marmot, underparts golden, 

 tail rusty yellowish. Western Texas, New Mexico and 

 .Arizona north to 49°. 



Dakota Marmot. — Marmota dacota (Merriam). Size 

 large; hairs on shoulders elongated to form a mantle, 

 yellowish-brown mixed with black above; head black. 

 South Dakota. 



Olympic Marmot. — Marmota olympiis (Merriam). 

 Size equal to Hoary Marmot ; yellow ochraceous above ; 

 dark bar across face. Olympic Mountains. Washington. 



Photograph by U. S. Rii !■ ii,'ical Survey 



YELLOW-BELLIED MARMOT 

 A large western type which can be readily distinguished by the beautiful golden tint on its underfur 



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