242 RODENTIA. 



3 feet, including the long black tail. The back and 

 upper part of the parachute are l^lack or dark lirown ; 

 the under part is white. The fur is soft, and the 

 parachute well developed. It is a very rare animal, and 

 the skins are practically valueless for commercial pur- 

 poses. 



EUEOPEAN SOUSLIK. 



Spcrmophihis citiUus. 



The European Souslik measures about 6 inches, with 

 a short tail of 2 inches in length. The general colour 

 is yellowish-brown, covered with lighter spots. The tail 

 is sparingly covered with short black bristly hairs about 

 an inch long, white at the tip, and with a yellow ground. 

 The hair is very short and harsh, about one-eighth of 

 an inch, and tipped with white ; the belly is almost 

 bare, but the hair is longer at the sides, like the 

 American Badger. The female has 4 teats. 



The larger animals have a yellowish tinge, especially 

 at the neck ; the smaller are lirowner. 



It inhabits the south of Eussia, where it is found 

 in large quantities, and causes considerable loss to the 

 farmer by the great damage it does to the crops. 



The Souslik is known commercially as the Kaluga or 

 Susliki. It has only become an article of commerce the 

 last few years. It is imported in the form of linings, 

 and is chiefly utilized for making low-priced mantles. 



It is said to burrow 9 feet deep. 



There is an American variety of the Souslik, very 

 similar to this animal, but rather larger. It is said to 

 inhal)it the western side of the Eocky Mountains. 



