214 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Description Habitations. 



on the under parts. The head is rather large, 

 and flattish ; the ears short, and concealed by 

 the fur; and the tail thick and bushy. The 

 voice generally resembles the murmuring of a 

 young puppy: but when the animal is alarmed 

 or irritated, it makes a whistling noise, very loud 

 and piercing. 



These animals delight in the regions of frost 

 and snow, and are seldom to be found but on 

 the summits of the Alps, or the highest moun- 

 tains of Poland and Tartary. They remain in a 

 torpid state during winter. About the end of 

 September, or the early part of October, they 

 retire into their holes, and do not come abroad 

 again till the beginning of April. Their retreat* 

 are formed with much art and precaution. They 

 do not make a single hole, nor either a straight 

 or a winding tube ; but a kind of gallery in the 

 form of the letter Y, each branch of which has 

 an aperture, and both terminate in a large apart- 

 ment, where several of the animals lodge toge- 

 ther. As the whole operation is performed on 

 the declivity of a mountain, the innermost aper- 

 ture alone is horizontal. Both the branches are 

 inclined : one of them descends under the apart- 

 ment, and follows the declivity of the mountain ; 

 this is a kind of aqueduct, to receive and carry 

 off all the filth that is produced within : the other, 

 which rises above the principal apartment, is 

 used for coming in and going out at. The place 



