240 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



The Marmot Marmots are found in the northern parts cf 

 The Bobak. both the old and the new worlds. The Bobak 

 The Prairie belongs to southern Russia, the Prairie Dog to 



SflflE 



North America and the Woodchuck to Canada. 

 The marmot is easily tamed and is familiar to many from 

 being made the companion of itinerant Savoyards who exhibit 

 them when asking amis. The Bobak is also readily amen- 

 able to kindness. All these animals live in burrows and are 

 exceedingly interesting in their habits. The anomalure is a 

 squirrel with a membranous skin resembling to some extent 

 that of the flying squirrels and used by it for the same pur- 

 pose. It belongs to Fernando Po. 



The The Chinchilla is about nine inches long, its 



chinchilla, tail being about five inches. Its eyes are full, 

 like those of the rabbit, its hind legs are long, its fore ones 

 short It sits upon its haunches, and takes its food in its 

 fore paws. It is found in Chili and Peru, and inhabits the 

 open country, living in burrows, and subsisting on the roots 

 of bulbous plants, which are abundant in those regions. 

 Great numbers of them are killed for their skins, which furnish 

 the most delicate and beautiful of furs. The Alpine Viscacha 

 and the Viscacha of the Pampas, are included in the same 

 family. 



The The Porcupine is found throughout Africa and 



Porcupine, southern Asia and also in the south of Europe. 

 "Less completely covered with weapons of defence than the 

 hedgehog," says Captain Brown, "the porcupine possesses 

 them in greater strength, for its formidable quills are capable 

 of inflicting severe wounds. When irritated or in danger it 

 raises its quills on its back ; but it is though fretful, not fierce 

 in disposition but easily tamed." When cornered the por- 

 cupine turns its back to its assailant, who usually wounds 

 himself by coming hi contact with the quills. The porcupine 

 lives in burrows by itself; it is a lonely animal. The Cavies 

 and the Agouti of America are classified with this family. 



