244 MAMMALIA—MARMOT. 
tamed beyond a certain limit. They burrow like rabbits, and in much less 
time. The excavations which it forms are many yards long, oblique, and 
winding, but not more than half a yard from the surface of the ground. It 
is fond of warmth, making its nest of the finest and most delicate herbage , 
and seems sensible of the approach of bad’ weather by wrapping itself up 
close in hay, with its head between its thighs. It sleeps during winter, 
without nutriment. The Jerboa breeds several times in the summer, and 
ssually brings forth seven or eight young ones at a litter. The flesh is 
reckoned one of the greatest of delicacies by the Arabs. They are found in 
Syria, Phenicia, Barbary, &c. 
THE LABRADOR JUMPING MOUSE! 

Is found in the fur countries as far north as Slave Lake. Its color 1s brown 
above, and white beneath. 

THE MARMOT. 
Ture seenis to be a combination of the bear and the rat in the form of 
the marmot. Its nose, its lips, and the form of its head, are like those cf 
the hare; it has the hair and claws of the badger, and teeth of the beaver, 
the whiskers of the cat, the paws of the hare, with a tufted tail and short 

1 Gerbillus Labradorius, Sasine. The genus Gerbillus has two upper and two lower 
incisors ; no canines; six upper and six lower molars. Molars tuberculous; posterior 
extremities very long, with five toes, each with its proper metatarsal bone; tail long, 
covered with hair. 
_ 2 Arctomys marmotta, Desm. The genus Arctomys has two upper and two lower 
incisors ; no canines; ten upper and eight lower molars. Incisors very strong; molars 
with ridges and blunt tubercles; body thick and heavy; head large; no cheek pouches ; 
ears shor’ and rounded; eyes large; feet robust, those before witf four toes and a rudi- 
mentary thumb ; those behind with five toes, the nails strong, compressed, and crooked, 
