168 BULLETIN NO. VII. 



ing ever since, as Mr. Jillson kindly informs me. Mr. Jillson 

 writes under date of May 18th, 1885: "They are not numerous 

 enough yet to do a great deal of damage to crops, but if a pair 

 takes up its abode near small chickens or turkeys, they soon 

 thin them out. When not frightened into their holes they gen 

 erally plug them up with dirt, but always leave them open 

 when out." This latter habit has not been noticed by any 

 other observer, and is not shared in by the striped gopher ; in 

 fact it may be that this habit is one result of their more 

 exposed habitat. 



GENUS ARCTOMYS, (LiNN.) SCHREBER. 



' Skull with the dorsal outline nearly straight ; frontal 

 region flat or depressed ; postorbitals triangular at base, with 

 a long decurved point ; zygomatic arches moderately expanded, 

 not widening and diverging posteriorly ; grinding teeth rather 

 small, the transverse and an tero- posterior diameters about 

 equal, and the molar series very nearly parallel ; occipital and 

 interparietal crests well developed ; anteorbital foramina sub- 

 triangular, widest below, but not thrown outward. 



"Size large; body thick- set, broad, depressed; cheek - 

 pouches small ; tail rather short, bushy not flattened ; ears 

 small ; nail of pollex broad, flat, or wanting ; pelage consisting 

 of long coarse hairs and thick under fur. Coloration generally 

 yellowish gray or brownish, without either distinct spots or 

 stripes." The woodchucks are magnified Spermophiles with 

 some of the characters intensified, but seem to be an older and 

 more synthetic type perhaps the most central living group of 

 the Sciuridce. 



Three closely allied species are recognized from America, 

 A. monax from the eastern United States north to Hudson's 

 Bay, A. flaviventer, from the Rockies, A. pruinosus, from Alaska 

 and northwestern America. The last is very close to the Old 

 World form A. marmota, which is at home in the Alps, Pyre- 

 nees and Carpathians. A small species, A. bobac, occurs in 

 Siberia and Russia. 



Arctomys monax (LiNN) SCHREBER. 

 WOODCHUCK. 



Length, 13.50 15.50; tail to end of vertebrae 4.50; to end of 

 hairs, 6.75; hind foot, 3.00; fore foot 2.30; nose to eye 1.50. 



Color, a mixture of gray, fulvous and brown, below brown to 

 rufous. Top of head, feet and tail dark brown to black; sides 



