168 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



lie upon it, with the head brought down between the legs ; 

 and he adds, that in order to close the entrance of their 

 retreat, they at last enter it backward with a bundle of hay 

 in the mouth, which they contrive to leave at the opening, so 

 as effectually to close it up. 



The Marmots passing the whole winter in a deep lethargy 

 make no reserve of provisions, and they become extremely 

 thin during this long period of abstinence, which renders 

 their flesh hard and coriaceous. At the commencement of 

 winter, when they are very fat, the mountaineers seek them 

 for the sake of the meat, which, however, even then would 

 not be very agreeable to refined palates ; their fat has the 

 taste and appearance of lard. 



The incisors of the Marmot are extremely powerful, so 

 much so that they can only be kept in confinement in an 

 iron-wire cage. 



These animals are plantigrade. They have four toes be- 

 fore and five behind. The ears have only the rudiment of an 

 helix on the anterior part, without any other lobe or fold. 

 The eyes are large, with round pupils. The nostrils are naked 

 only on the part which separates them. The upper lip is 

 cleft, leaving the incisors at all times uncovered. The 

 tongue is small, thick, and soft. There are mustachios on the 

 sides of the muzzle, and above and below the eye. The fur 

 is of two sorts, 1. Woolly, which is long, rather frizzled 

 and thicker than the other ; of a deep gray for the greater 

 part of its length, and white at the tip. 2. Silky, which is 

 rare, and rather longer than the woolly, black for the 

 greater part of their length, and white at the extremity. 

 On the yellow parts the hairs are entirely of that colour, or 

 with a few narrow black annuli toward their points. 



The general colour of the animal resulting from these 

 mixtures on each hair is of a softish sprinkled gray on the 

 back, neck, head, and part of the sides of the body, and 



