18 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



likewise connected with the latter by its convex nose, 

 proper for an animal accustomed to dig-. In its whole 

 habit it diflrers from the squirrels which live in trees, and 

 forms, with other striped squirrels, a division of the 

 genus. It has a long-er head than the common squirrel ; 

 rounded ears, not tufted ; a roundish, hairy tail, which 

 it less frequently turns up ; a slender body, and shorter 

 limbs. The fur likewise is very short, and less fine. 

 Yet in its diurnal habits, and in not becoming torpid in 

 winter, it comes near the squirrels : it is difficult to 

 tame. 



Parry's Spermophile {Spermophiliis Parryi). 



The genus Spermophilus is intermediate between the 

 ground-squirrels and the marmots. Besides possessing 

 cheek-pouches, the Spermophiles are distinguished by 

 the closeness of the ears, the slender form of the body, 

 which is squirrel-like, and the narrowness of the paws. 



Two species are natives of eastern Europe, viz. the 

 Souslik of the Volga, and the Zizel or Suzel of Hun- 

 gary, Poland, &c., which are, perhaps, mere varieties. 

 Many species are American, one of which, Parry's 

 Spermophile, is the species figured. 



Colour of the body above, a mixture of white thickly 

 spotted on a gray or black ground ; face chestnut ; under 

 parts rust-brown ; tail with a narrow white margin, and 

 black at the extremity. This, according to Dr. Rich- 

 ardson, who first named the species, is the Ground- 

 Squirrel of Heme ; the Quebec Marmot of Forster ; the 

 Seek-Seek of the Esquimaux; the Thoe-thiay (Rock 

 Badger) of the Chepewyans ; and the Arctomys Alpina 

 of Parry's ' Second Voyage.' 



Dr. Richardson stales that it inhabits the Barren 

 Grounds skirting the sea-coast from Churchill in Hudson's 

 Bay round by Melville Peninsula, and the whole northern 

 extremity of the continent to Behring's Straits, where 

 specimens precisely similar were procured by Captain 

 Beechey. It is abundant in the neighbourhood of Fort 



