AECTOMTS. 389 



Dimensions. Head and body 22 to 24 inches, tail without haii* 

 5 to 5-5, with hair 6 to Q'b, hind foot 3*25 ; basal length of skull 

 3'85, extreme length 4*1, zygomatic breadth 2-6. 



Distribution. Tibet north of the main Himalayan chain, from 

 the neighbourhood of Lhassa to Ladak and the Kuenlun. Common 

 in Eukshu and Ladak at elevations of from about 13,000 or 14,000 

 feet to 18,000. This species was also obtained in Northern Tibet 

 by Przewalski. 



Habits. This marmot inhabits the bleak dry plateau of Tibet 

 in colonies, its burrows being most commonly found on the sides 

 of valleys. It lives on roots and vegetables, comhig out to feed in 

 the morning and evening ; it doubtless hibernates in the winter. 

 The alarm cry is " a short chirping bark " according to Lydeklcer. 

 Marmots are easily tamed, and the present species is no exception. 



260. Arctomys hodgsoni. The smaller Himalayan Marmot. 



Arctomys hemaclialanus, Hodgson, J. A. S. B. xii, p. 410 (1843) ; 



Jerdon, Mam. p. 182 ; Blanford, J. A. S. B. xliv, pt. 2, p. 122 ; nee 



A. liinialavanus, Hodgson. 

 Arctomys tibetanus, Gray, Cat. Mam. ^-c. NepcdS)- Tibet, 1846, p. 24; 



id. 2nd ed. p. 12; nee A. tibetensis, Hodgson. 

 Arctomys bobac, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xvi, p. 875, partim ; id. Cat. 



p. 108, partim, nee Schreher. 

 Arctomys hodgsoni, W. Blanford, Yarlmnd Miss., Mam. p. 35 ; id. 



P. Z. S. 1880, p. 453. 

 Jabra, Bhotia. 



Tail about a third as long as the body and head. Five or six 

 pairs of mammse. 



Colour almost identical with that of A. himalaganus, tawny, the 

 dorsal fur dusky at the base and black-tipped, bridge of nose and 

 end of tail dark brown. Sides of head, ears, and limbs rufous, 

 especially in summer. 



Dimensions. Head and body 12 to 13 inches, tail 5^, hind foot 

 nearly 3. I believe these measurements, which are Hodgson's, are 

 too small, and that the species grows to 16 or 18 inches from 

 nose to vent. An adult skull measures 3"7 in extreme length, 

 2*4 in zygomatic breadth. 



Distribution. Nepal, 8ikhira, and Bhutan ; probably Cis-Hima- 

 layan, whilst A. Mmalayanus is Trans-Himalayan. 



Nothing is known of this species except in confinement. I 

 have never seen the skin of a wild specimen, nor, I believe, has one 

 been recorded, althougli there are, at present, no less than fifteen 

 specimens in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, and this marmot is 

 apparently far from rare in Sikhim. Hodgson had both this and 

 A. himalayanas in confinement. The name hemachalamis, being 

 identical with Mmalayanus, cannot be employed. 



