WOOD-CHUCK OR GROUND-HOG. 19 



in an ereet posture, sitting on their rump, and letting tteir fore-legs and 

 feet hang loosely do^v^^ in the manner of our squirrels. 



The old female, when approached, opened her mouth, showed her 

 teeth, and made a rattling or clattering noise with the latter, evidently 

 in anger. Neither the female nor the young appeared to become in any 

 degree tame during the period we kept them. The former frequently 

 emitted a shrill whistle-like noise, which is a note of alarm and anger, 

 and may be heard when one is at a distance of about fifty yards from the 

 animal. After we had made figures from those specimens, we examined 

 their mouths, but did not find any pouches like those described by Dr. 

 GoDMAN, although there appeared to be a ca-v-itj-, not larger than would 

 admit a common green pea, and which was the only trace of any thing 

 like a pouch in those we procured, and in all that have been observed by us. 



When the Wood-Chuck is feeding, it keeps its erect position, inclin- 

 ing the head, and fore-part of its body forward and sideways, so as to 

 reach its food ^vithout extending the fore-legs and feet, which are drawn 

 back under it ; after getting a mouthful, it draws back its head again and 

 brings its body to an upright posture by the muscular power of the hind- 

 legs and feet. On being surprised or pursued, this species runs veiy fast 

 for some eight or ten yards, and then frequently stops short and squats 

 down close to the ground, watching ro see if it has been observed ; and 

 will allow you to approach within a few feet, when it starts suddenly 

 again, and again stops and squats down as before. Not unfrequently, un- 

 der these circvunstances it puts its head under the dry leaves, or amid 

 tufts of grass, to conceal itself from the pursuer. You may then gene- 

 rally capture or kill it with a stick. These animals bite severely, and 

 defend themselves fiercely, and will, when unable to escape, turn and 

 make battle with a dog of more than double their own size. Sometimes 

 whilst they were lying down as if asleep, we have heard them make the 

 clattering noise before spoken of, with their teeth ; reminding us of a 

 person's teeth chattering in an ague fit When walking leisiirely, they 

 place their feet flat upon the ground at full length, arching the toes, how- 

 ever, as is the habit of squirrels. These Marmots sleep during the greater 

 part of the day, stealing from their burrows early in the morning and to- 

 wards evening. They climb trees or bushes awkwardly, and when they 

 have found a comfortable situation in the sunshine, either on the branch 

 of a tree, or on a bush, will remain there for hours. They clean their 

 faces with the fore-feet, whilst sitting up on their hind-legs, like a squir- 

 rel, and frequently lick their fur in the manner of a cat, leaving the coat 

 smoothed do\^'n by the tongue. The body of the Wood-Chuck is ex- 

 tremely flabby after being killed, its flesh is, however, tolerably good. 



