116 



ALPINE MARMOT. 



is contrived with great art, and consists of an 

 oval cavity or general receptacle, large enough to 

 contain several of the animals, and having a large 

 canai or passage, which divaricates in such a 

 manner as to present two outlets to the surface of 

 the ground. These recesses are prepared on the 

 declivities of elevated spots, and the cavern or re- 

 ceptacle is well lined with moss and hay, which 

 they prepare during summer, as if conscious of 

 the necessity of providing for their long hybernal 

 sleep. In fine weather they are seen sporting 

 about the neighbourhood of their burrows ; and 

 delight in basking in the sunshine ; frequently 

 assuming an upright posture, sitting on their 

 hind-feet. When assembled in this manner, it is 

 observed, that one of the exterior number seems 

 to act as a centinel, and on the approach of any 

 danger, alarms the fraternity by a loud and shrill 

 whistle, on which they instantly retire to their 

 cavern. These animals make no provision for 

 winter ; but as soon as the autumnal frosts com- 

 mence, they carefully stop up the entrances to 

 their mansions, and gradually fall into a state of 

 torpidity, in which they continue till the arrival 

 of spring, when they again awake, and re-com- 

 mence their excursions. Before they retire to 

 their winter quarters they are observed to grow 

 excessively fat; and, on the contrary, appear 

 greatly emaciated on first emerging from them. 

 If carefully dug up during the winter, from their 

 holes, they may be conveyed away in their sleep- 

 ing state j and when brought into a warm chain- 



