THE BABAC. 715 



with the parents until the following summer. When autumn arrives, 

 thoy descend to the region of pasturage, and dig out a new burrow for 

 their winter home, which is always deeper than the summer retreat. It 

 is then they make hay — cutting grass, turning and drying it, which 

 when cured, they carry into the chamber appointed for its reception. 



The Babac, Arctoinys babak (Plate LVII), extends from Southern 

 Poland and Galicia to the Amoor. It inhabits the steppes and stony 

 plateaux, avoiding sandy spots and woodlands. Its thick fur is of a ruddy- 

 yellow on the upper side of the body, rather darker on the head ; the tip 

 of the tail is almost black, the throat and chest grayish-white. 



The Babacs live in settlements containing a very large population, 

 which in the summer present an animated sight. At sunrise young and 

 old leave their burrows, and eagerly lick up the dew ; then they eat tiie 

 leaves and blades of grass, and seem to sport merrily on the hillocks 

 they have thrown up. But they vanish at once when any danger comes in 

 sight. In June they begin to collect their winter provisions, and when 

 the autumn is felt gather their hay-harvest. In the first half of Septem- 

 ber they retire uito their winter abode, stop the entrance to the burrow 

 with stones, sand, and grass, and pass into a state of semi-torpidity. 



The WooDCHUCK or Pouched Marmot, Arctomys vionax (Plate 

 LVII), has a thick body and very short legs. The head is short and 

 conical, the ears short, rounded, and thickly covered with hair, eyes 

 moderate, whiskers numerous. The fore-feet have four toes and a rudi- 

 mentary thumb, the hind-feet have five toes. The name Woodchuck 

 properly belongs to this animal, although it is often applied to the Pecan. 



The Woodchuck is subject to many variations in the color of its 

 fur. Generally the back is grizzly or hoary, the cheeks light-gray, 

 whiskers black; head, nose, feet, and tail dark-brown; eyes black; the 

 whole under-surface a reddish-orange. It is fond of sitting in an erect 

 posture, sitting on its rump, and letting its fore-legs hang loosely. It 

 keeps in this position when feeding, inclining the head and foi^epart of 

 the body forward and sideways. If pursued they run very fast for eight 

 or ten yards, then stop and squat down ; then start again. When walk- 

 ing leisurely, they place their feet flat upon the ground. They sleep 

 during the greater part of the day, but leave their burrows early in the 

 morning and in the evening. They climb trees very awkwardly. They 

 become torpid in the winter, and remain underground till the grass has 

 sprung up. 



