ALPINE MARMOT. 



drowsiness which precedes the commenoement of their periodical 

 sleep, they take care to stop up the door of their house, as if they 

 could foresee that a long interval must elapse before they shall 

 want to go out, and that the open door would not only 

 expose them to cold, but might give admission to dangerous 

 enemies. 



29. The alpine marmots supply examples of these curious 

 manners. 



Fig. 8. — Alpm6 Marmot. 



These animals usually establish their dwellings upon the 

 face of steep acclivities, which look to the south or the east ; they 

 assemble in large numbers for the excavation of these dwellings 

 by their common labour. The form of their dens is that of the 

 letter Y placed on its side, thus H , the tail being horizontal, and 

 one of the two branches being inclined upwards, and the other 

 downwards. The cavity, which forms the tail of the Y, is the 

 dwelling-room. It is carpeted with moss and hay, of which the 

 animal makes an ample provision in summer. The upward 

 branch leads to the door of the dwelling, and supplies the means 

 of exit and entrance to the inhabitants. The descending 

 branch is used for the discharge of ordure, and aU other 

 oifal, the removal of which is necessary to the cleanliness of the 

 house. 



30. Buffon says, that in the construction of these dwellings,- 

 the animals observe a curious division of labour : some cut the 

 grass, others collect it in heaps, and others, lying on their backs 

 with their legs upwards, convert themselves into a sort of sledge, 

 upon which the grass is heaped by the others, being kept together 

 by the upright legs of the prostrate animal, just as hay is retained 

 upon a farm-cart by the poles fixed at its corners. The animal 

 lying thus is dragged by the tail by the others, to the mouth of 

 the dwelling in which the grass is deposited, 



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