3} 



do. 



5f 



do. 



3 



4 



do. 



17 



do. 



26 



do. 



jg WOOD-CHUCK OR GROUND-HOG. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Adult Male. 



From point cff nose to root of tail - - - I8| inches. 



Tail (vertebraj) 



Tail, to end of hair ------ 



Ear, posteriorly 



Girth of body ------- 



From fore to hind claw, when stretched - 

 We have found some difference in the length of the tail, in different in- 

 dividuals, it being, in some specimens, nearly seven inches long including 

 the hair. 



Weight 91b. 11 oz. 



HABITS. 



In the Middle States many individuals of this species seem to prefer 

 stony places, and often burrow^ close to or in a stone wall. When this is 

 the case, it is very difficult to procure them, as they are secure from the 

 attacks of dogs, and much labour would be necessary in removing 

 the large stones, and digging up the earth in order to dislodge them. 



From our own observations, we are obliged to contradict the following 

 account given of the habits of this species. It has been said that " when 

 about to make an inroad upon a clover field, all the marmots resident in 

 the vicinity, quietly and cautiously steal towards the spot, being favoured 

 in their march by their gray colour, which is not easily distinguished. 



"While the main body are actively engaged in cropping the clover heads, 

 and gorging their ' amjde cheek-iwuches,' one or more individuals remain 

 at some distance in the rear as sentinels. These watchmen sit erect, 

 with their fore-paws held close to their breast, and their heads slightly 

 inclined, to catch every soimd which may move the air. Their extreme 

 sensibility of ear enables them to distinguish the approach of an enemy 

 long before he is sufficiently near to be dangerous, and the instant the 

 sentinel takes alarm, he gives a clear shrill whistle, which immediately 

 disperses the troop in every direction, and they speedily take refuge in 

 their deepest caves. The time at which such incursions are made is 

 generally about mid-day, when they are less liable to be interrupted than 

 at any other period, either by human or brute enemies," (Godman, Ame- 

 rican Natural History, vol. ii., p. 102.) 



We kept two of these animals alive forseveral weeks, feeding them on 

 different grasses, potatoes, apples, and other fruits and vegetables. We 

 found them to be very active at times, though fond of placing themselves 



