THE ALPINE MARMOT. 



21 



1. — Alpine Marmot. 



of this gallery two others bifurcate, one of which, ac- 

 cording to Desmarest, leads to a sort of chamber in the 

 form of an oven, from three to seven feet in diameter ; 

 the other ends abruptly, and serves as a storehouse for 

 dried grasses, &c. According to some, these passages 

 are not always to be met with, and MM. Geoftroy and 

 F, Cuvier assert that the cell is at the end of the first 

 gallery. During the summer months groups of these 

 animals may be seen feeding and sporting on the moun- 

 tain-side, (Fig. 7.) They never wander to any great 

 distance from their burrows, and have always one or 

 more of their number posted as sentinels, which by 

 a piercing cry give warning of danger. About the 



