ZOOLOGY. 



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5. Ardomys. Marmot. Front teeth wedge-shaped, two ia 



each jaw ; upper grinders fi?e on each side, lower 

 four ; clavicles perfect. 



A cleanly shy family, the iudividuali of which all become 

 torpid during winter; their habitations are formed under 

 ground of several feet in extent, and lined with moss, dry- 

 grass, and other soft substances, which are placed at the ex- 

 tremity of their caves; these they rarely quit during wet 

 weather ; their food is grain and vegetables. 



6. Sciurus. Squirrel. Upper front teeth cuneated, the 



lower acute; upper grinders five on each side, lower 

 four; t^ay/c/es perfect ; hair on the fa?7 long, spread 

 on each side : xchiskers long. Some of this genus are 

 furnished with a membranaceous appendage, capable 

 of considerable extention, which assists to support 

 them when leaping, as with wings. 



This is a lively, active, elegant tribe, of gentle manners, 

 easily tamed, but of a shy temper ; they form their nests in 

 the hollows or forked branches of trees, and compose them 

 of moss, dry grass, and leaves ; their food is the seeds of 

 forest trees and fruit ; they are mostly natives of woody 

 situations, and except taken from the nest while young, they 

 are not easily obtained but by the gun. 



3. MijQxus. Dormouse. Upper front teeth two, wedge- 

 shaped, the lower ones compressed sideways ; grinders 

 four in each jaw ; tail hairy, round, thickened towardi 

 ' the tip ; front toes four. 



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