362 



V ERTEBE ATA. 



More than a dozen species of this genus arc found in North America. One of the most inter- 

 esting is Pabkt's Marmot-Squirrel, S. Parryi. This is the Seekseek of the Esquimaux, and 

 the Thae-thiay, or Rock-Badger, of the Chippeways. The ears arc very short; body thickly 

 spotted above with white on a graj or black ground; pale rust-colored beneath; lace chestnut- 

 colored; the tail one-third longer than the hind-feet, stretched out fiat, black at the extremity, 

 with a narrow white margin, rust-colored beneath; Length of head and body, eight inches six 

 s; of the vertebra? of the tail, one inch six lines. 



Richardson tells us thai this Spermophile inhabits the Barren Grounds skirting the sea-coast 

 from Fort Churchill in Hudson's Hay round by Melville Peninsula, and the whole northern ex- 

 tremity of tin- tinent to Behring's Straits, where specimens precisely similar were procured by 



Captain Beechey. It is abundant in the neighborhood of Fori Enterprise, near the southern 

 verge of the Barren Grounds, in 65° north latitude-, and is also plentiful on Caj Parry, one of 

 the most northern parts of the continent. It is found generally in Btony districts, hut seem-, to 

 delight chiefly in sandy hillocks among rocks, where burrows, inhabited by different individuals, 

 may be often observed i rowded together. 



One of the society is generally observed sitting erect on the summit of a hillock, while the 

 others are feeding in tin- oeighborhood. Upon the approach of danger he gives the alarm, and 

 they instantly hurry to their holes, remaining, however, chattering at the entrance until the ad- 

 vance of the enemy obliges them to retire to the bottom. When their retreat is cut oft" they be- 

 come much terrified, and, seeking shelter in the first crevice, they not unfrequently succeed only 

 in hiding the head and fore part of the body, while the projecting tail is, as is usual with them 

 under the influence of terror, spread out flat on the rock. Their cry in this season of distre-> 

 strongly resembles the loud alarm of the Hudson's Bay squirrel, and is not very unlike the sound 

 of a watchman's rattle. The Esquimaux name of Seekseek is an attempt to express this sound. 

 Eeame states that they arc easily lamed, and very cleanly and playful when domesticated. They 

 never come abroad during the winter. 



1'It.UIUE MAKMOTS AND BUKKOWING OWLS. 



The I'kaiuie Doo, S. Ludovkianus, is sometimes called the Wish-torir-wish, and sometin* 

 Prairii Marmot, <>v Prairie Marmot- Squirrel. Its appearance is much like that of the marine' 

 being short, thick, and clumsy; but its cheek-pouches, though only three-fourths of an inch dee] 

 place it with the Bpermophiles. Its body is about thirteen inches in length; on its back tn 

 color is reddish-brown, mixed with gray and black; beneath it is a dirty wdiite. In several N 



