Plate XVIII. 
The Whistling Marmot. Pen and ink rendering from a photograph taken in 
Buck Creek Pass 
roundabout route through the Italian from the Latin mus 
montanus, or mountain mouse. 
Ten species of marmot are known to exist in the northern 
hemisphere, two being found in Europe, three in America and 
five in Asia. The alpine marmot of Europe has been known 
for generations to the mountaineers of the Old World. It 
resembles very closely our American whistling marmot and its 
habits are quite similar. The long-tailed marmot of the Hima- 
layas (Marmota caudatus) is another close relative. The ground- 
hog of lower altitudes is a cousin, zoologically speaking, of the 
marmot, while the prairie-dog is a sort of second cousin, since 
he belongs to another but closely allied genus, Cynomys. The 
bobac of the Asiatic plains is another kinsman of the marmot 
tribe. 
Unlike their near relatives, the squirrels, the marmots do 
not possess cheek pouches for the temporary storage of food, 
