224 



A COURSE ON ZOOLOGY. 



called the ground-squirrel, common in North America. 

 It lives in underground burrows. 



Marmots are found all over Europe, Asia, and North 

 America ; they abound in the Alps. They pass the greater 

 part of their existence in burrows, in which, on the ap- 

 proach of winter, they enter that lethargic sleep that char- 

 acterizes hibernating animals. The woodchuck is our 

 largest marmot, its length being about fourteen inches. 



FIG. 153. 



THE ALPINE MARMOT (Arctomys marmotta). 



The prairie-dogs of the western United States are 

 closely allied to the marmots. They construct what are 

 called prairie-dog villages, and it is said that their habi- 

 tations are shared with the rattlesnake and the owl. 

 They are rather larger than rats. 



The beaver is one of the largest rodents, attaining a 

 length of two and a half feet. It has a flat, scaly tail, 

 and the hind feet are webbed, all the toes having claws. 

 It is a semi-aquatic animal, celebrated for the ingenious 

 manner in which it constructs lodges and dams with 



