MARMOTS. 87 



species are the Cabul marmot (A. dichrous) from Northern Afghanistan, and the 

 golden marmot (A. aureus) from the mountains to the west of Yarkand. 



The districts inhabited by all the marmots of the Old World are desolate and 

 barren ; being in most cases scorched with fierce heat in summer, while in winter 

 they are subject to intense cold. In the Himalaya, these animals are not met with 

 until the traveller has crossed the wooded outer ranges, and entered the bleak 

 Tibetan districts. The barren nature of the Siberian steppes is too well known to 

 need more than passing mention. The occurrence of fossil remains of the Alpine 

 marmot in many parts of Europe, such as Germany, the south of France, Italy 

 as far south as Mentone, and Belgium, naturally leads to the conclusion that 

 Western Europe had at one time a more or less steppe-like climate. As milder 

 and more genial climatic conditions supervened, the Alpine marmot gradually 

 retreated to the nearest mountain-ranges ; and we thus have a complete explanation 

 of its present isolated distributional areas. 



The habits of all the marmots of the Old World appear to be 

 very similar; all the species of these animals living in large 

 companies, and excavating burrows in which they pass the whole of the winter 

 buried in profound slumber. Indeed, marmots seem to be the most thoroughly 

 hibernating of mammals, since their sleep is apparently unbroken, and they lay up 

 no store of winter food. All the species are diurnal in their habits ; and their food 

 is purely of a vegetable nature, consisting mainly of roots, leaves, and seeds of 

 various plants. In the Himalaya the burrows are very generally constructed 

 beneath the shelter of a plant of wild rhubarb ; and the tenants on a fine day take 

 up their station on the mound at the entrance, or journey for a short distance in 

 search of food. At the least alarm, they rush at once to the entrance of their 

 burrow, when they sit up on their hind-quarters to survey the scene and detect the 

 clanger. If the enemy approach too close, the loud whistling scream is uttered, and 

 the animal dives headlong into its burrow, to reappear after a time and see if the 

 coast is clear. Both in the Alps and Himalaya marmot- warrens are situated in 

 exposed situations, generally where there is a considerable open space, and which 

 in winter are deeply buried in snow. In the case of the Alpine species, the winter- 

 quarters are made in large burrows, each with a single entrance, and terminating 

 in an extensive chamber lined with grass; such chambers, according to Prof. 

 Blasius, frequently containing as many as from ten to fifteen occupants during the 

 winter, all lying closely packed together. From two to four young appears to be 

 the usual number in a litter of the Himalayan species. 



The flesh of marmots is said to be of good flavour, and is largely consumed by 

 the inhabitants of the Siberian steppes, who as soon as the bobac reappears in 

 spring, after its winter sleep, organise a regular system of hunting. In shooting 

 marmots it is essential that they should be killed at the first shot, as the sportsman 

 is only able to come within range when they are sitting at the mouths of their 

 burrows, and if only wounded, no matter how severely, they are well-nigh sure 

 to have sufficient power left to struggle down. Marmots in the Himalaya 

 will generally reappear after being fired at once, but after a second fright 

 they are seldom seen again on that day. All the species appear to be readily 

 tamed. 



