714 RODENTIA. 



and depth of tint, for in some specimens the dark bands are paler than in 

 others, while in several specimens the pale spots have a tendency to 

 merge altogether and form bands. The average length of this creature 

 is nearly eleven inches, the tail slightly exceeding four inches in length 

 The cheek-pouches are moderate in dimensions. It is an inhabitant oi 

 Northern America. 



The burrow of the Leopard Marmot is generally driven perpen- 

 dicularly into the ground, to the depth of four or nearly five feet ; but on 

 the plains of the Upper Missouri, where the soil is sandy, the burrow 

 is almost horizontal, and lies barely a foot below the surface. Its bite is 

 very severe, and it snaps fiercely at all who try to capture it. 



The Line-tailed Spermophile, Spermophilus grammarius, has a wide 

 bushy tail, and large, pointed ears. The length of the animal is about 

 twelve inches ; the color is grayish, the tail is white and black, in alter- 

 nating longitudinal bands, two black, and three white. It is found in 

 Colorado. 



GENUS ARCTOMYS. 



The eight species of the genus are found in the northern parts of 

 North America as far as Virginia and Nebraska to the Rocky Moun- 

 tains and British Columbia, but not in California. In the Eastern Hemi- 

 sphere they extend from the Swiss Alps to Lake Baikal and Kamschatka, 

 and as far south as the Himalayas. The generic characteristics are 

 strong claws, fit for burrowing, a tail of moderate length, short limbs, 

 and a hare-lip. 



The Marmot, Arctomys marmota (Plate LVTI), is about the size of an 

 ordinary rabbit, and not very unlike that animal in color. The general 

 tint of the fur is grayish-yellow upon the back and flanks, deepening into 

 black-gray on the top of the head, and into black on the extremity of the 

 tail. It is common in all the mountainous districts of Northern Europe, 

 and lives on the high peaks of the Swiss and Savoy Alps, in the vicinity 

 of the glaciers. It forms small societies, composed of two or three 

 families, and digs out burrows on the slopes exposed to the sun. 



Marmots have a summer and winter residence — a town and country 

 mansion. In summer they betake themselves to the highest part of the 

 mountain, where they devote themselves to breeding and rearing their 

 young, the number of which varies from two to four, and who remain 



