THE Hamilton association. 83 



The .s^ronnd ho.s:, too, requires a partly wooded and 

 partly arable territory to prosper in ; he has limited tree- 

 olimbino- powers, and often seeks security when pursued by 

 enemies by preferabh^ ascending tree hollows, but with mus- 

 cular effort can ascend in about the same ungainly manner 

 as the bear or racoon, some of the rough-barked forest trees, 

 but, like the plantegrade, can only safely descend "rear end 

 first." The rodent's brief period of gestation (said to be about 

 30 days) may show co-relation to the climate where the quari- 

 ruped can so firmly and persistently maintain its status in the 

 chain of organized life. 



The marmots show foresight and sagacity in the choice 

 of a site for their hybernating burrow, a gravelly ridge in a 

 sheltered part of the forest not likely to be flooded during 

 winter thaw or rains. In summer fields of tall-growing wheat 

 near clover meadovi^s are their homes, and in a drouth they 

 are freauentlv known to desert their holes on the ridges and 

 knolls and excavate fresh ones in lower levels, where it has 

 been supposed they can dig to a water supply or to cooler or 

 moister quarters. (This conjecture about digging' for water 

 inay be untenable ; cleanly, or sanitary, reasons seem to carry 

 more probabilitv). 



To country boys with their dog the ground hog affords 

 much summer sport. The boys say that the marmots have 

 a traverse or excavated enlargement in the interior of th'jir 

 b)urrow to turn roimd in, or to make strategic evolutions in, 

 when invaded by an enemy, like niephitis, but that they 

 never or rarelv have a rear entrance to their earth fort, but 

 in the fall carry in a supply of soft and dry leaves, and enclose 

 tlieir sanctum with an earthy partition door, but store up no 

 crude food supply, but trust the resources of absorption, as 

 in Bruin's fable of ''sucking his paws." 



