OEDEE, OF EODENTIA. 485 



This animal leads a solitary life, and excavates a deep burrow, 

 with several outlets, where it stores up grain of aU sorts. How- 

 ever, these reserves are scarcely needed, for it lies in a torpid 

 state during the winter. Its flesh is said to be agreeable, and 

 its fur is much esteemed. 



Several species of Spermophiles are found in North America. 

 One of them, the Striped Spermophilus (Fig. 210), is so named 

 because it has the back marked with three longitudinal bands, 

 alternately white and brown, the latter being interspersed with 

 white spots. 



Genus Marmot. — Between the lively, graceful, well-proportioned 

 Squirrels and the Marmots, with their squat bodies and sluggish 



Fig. 210. — Striped or Hood's ypermupllilus {Spermophijlas Houdu). 



movements, the difference is certainly considerable. Yet, not- 

 withstanding this, the Marmots are allied to the Squirrels through 

 the Spermophiles. 



The Marmots are characterised by very long, powerful incisors, 

 strong claws, indicating burrowing habits, and by a tail of 

 medium length, somewhat thickly garnished with hair. They 

 have short limbs, and from that results the slowness of move- 

 ment peculiar to them. Their ears are scarcely apparent, and 

 their upper lip is cleft in the middle — a feature which is also 

 common to several other Rodents. 



The Marmots inhabit different chains of mountains in Europe, 

 Asia, and North America. They have nearly all the same habits i 



