122 



&ENTJS Arctomys Schreber. 



Etymology : Arlctos — bear ; Mus — mouse. 



1768. Mus, Linn, (in part), Syst. Nat., i, and early authors. 



1777. Glis, Erxl., Syst. Reg. Anim., 1777, 368 (in part). 



1778. Mures soporosi, Pallas, Nov. Spec. Glires, 1778, 74. 

 1792. Arctomys, Schreber, Saugt., iv., 1792, 720 (in part). 



1825. Arctomys, F. Cuvier, Dents des Mamm., 1825, 159, 254, pi liv (based 

 on Arctomys alpinus, Linn.," and " Arctomys empetra," Pall. 



Generic Characters. — Skull with dorsal outline nearly straight ; frontal 

 region flat or depressed; pt)st-orbital8 triangular at base, with a long, de- 

 curved point ; zygomatic arches moderately extended, not widening and 

 diverging posteriorly; grinding teeth rather small, the transverse and 

 antero-posterior diameters about equal, and the molar series very nearly 

 parallel; ante-orbital foramina sub triangular under and below, but not 

 thrown outward. Size large ; body thick set, depressed ; cheek pouches 

 small; tail rather short, bushy, and flattened; ears small; nail of poUex 

 broad, flat, or wanting ; pelage with long, coarse hairs and thick under 

 fur. Coloration generally yellowish-gray, without either distinct spots 

 or stripes. This genus includes the largest members of the Sciuridee, and, 

 excepting the Beaver, the largest of existing North American rodents. 



Besides the species belonging to the fauna of Ohio, two species, A. 

 flaviventer and A. pruinosus, occur in the west and northward. The latter 

 is twice the weight and bulk of A. monax ; the former is more nearly 

 allied to A. monax, but has smaller ears and larger tail, aside from strongly 

 marked skeletal differences. 



The habitat of Arctomys monax extends from the Carolinas northward 

 to Hudson's Bay and Liard River, and westward from the Atlantic coast 

 to western Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota. 



Arctomys monax (Linn.) Schreb. 

 WooDCHtrcK ; Groond Hog; Marmot. 



1758. Mas monax, Linn. Syst. Nat., 10th ed., i, 1758, 60.— Pallas, Nov. 



Spec. Glires, 1778 (in^part only). — Boddaert, Elench. Anim., i, 



1784, 105. 

 1777. Glis monax, Erxl., Syst. Anim., 1777, 361. 

 1792. Arctomys monax, Schreber's Saugt., iv, 737. — Shaw, Gea. Zool., ii, 



1808, 117.— P. Cuvier, Diet, des Sci. Nat., xxix, 1823, 162.— 



Sabine, Trans. Linn. See, xiii, 1822, 582.— Harlan, Fauna 

 " Amer., 1825, 158.— Godman, Amer. Nat. Hist., ii, 1826, 100,— 



