ARCTOMYS. 303 
No. 310. ARCTOMYS BOBAC. 
Thibet Marmot of Jerdon, No. 168. 
The Bobac, or Poland Marmot. 
NativE Names.—J&rin, Kashmiri; Kadia-piu, Thibetan; Chzdz, 
Bhotia ; Zho, or Potsammiong, Lepcha. 
Hapsirat.—The Himalayan range from Kashmir to Sikim, in Thibet, 
Ladakh, Yarkand, also throughout Central Asia and Eastern Europe 
from the south of Poland and Gallicia over the whole of Southern 
Russia and Siberia, to the Amoor and Kamtchatka. 
Description.—Above sub-rufescent cat-grey, washed with blackish 
brown on the back and sides and front of face, rufescent yellow 
beneath ; the hind limbs more rufous; fur close, adpressed, rather 
harsh ; tail with a black tip. 
The hairs are tinged with three bands of dusky rufescent yellow and 
blackish-brown, the latter being most intense on the face, forehead, 
head and back (see ‘P. Z. S.’ 1871, p. 560). Inthe plate given in the 
report by Mr. Blanford on the mammalia collected during the second 
Yarkand Mission the back is somewhat barred with dark brown, as is 
also the tail. The sexes are alike, and of nearly equal size. 
Size.—Head and body, about 24 inches; tail, 5 to 6 inches. ‘This 
animal is seldom found at a lower elevation than 12,000 feet, and from 
that to 16,000 feet according to Jerdon, but Dr. Stoliczka noticed it in 
Ladak at a height of 17,800 feet. 
“It burrows in the ground, living in small societies, and feeding on 
roots and vegetables. It lifts its food to its mouth with its fore-feet. It 
is easily tamed. One was brought alive to Calcutta some years ago, 
and did not appear, says Mr. Blyth, to be distressed by the heat of that 
place. It was quite tame and fearless, and used to make aloud 
chattering cachinnation. It was fond of collecting grass, &c., and carry- 
ing it to its den. Travellers and sportsmen often meet with this 
marmot, and speak of its sitting up in groups, and suddenly disappearing 
into its burrows. The cured skins form an important item of commerce, 
and are brought to Nepal, and in great numbers to China” (/erdon). 
Mr. Blanford, in alluding to the conditions under which marmots are 
liable to produce permanent varieties, says: “each colony or group 
being isolated, and frequently at a distance of many miles from the next 
colony, the two in all probability rarely, if ever, breed with each other.” 
Therefore several which are recorded as distinct species may in time 
be proved to be merely varieties of one. Mr. Blanford keeps to the 
specific name Himalayanus of Hodgson in his report. 
