4SS MAMMALIA. 



Naturally mild and sociable, the Marmot is readily tamed, and 

 under the influence of good treatment becomes very affectionate 

 and familiar; it can be even taught to perform tricks at the 

 command of its master, and the young Savoyards turn this 

 feature of its character to a profitable account. 



The Marmot lives on anything in captivity — fruit, herbs, 

 insects, bread, and flesh ; but milk and butter are its favourite 

 diet. 



If the Marmot renders some pleasure during its life to the poor 

 people of the Alps by means of the tricks it acquires, it is much 

 more useful to them after its death. Its flesh is excellent, its 

 only drawback being a slight odour ; but this may be got rid 

 of by judicious seasoning. Its fur is not of much value com- 

 mercially ; but it is none the less appreciated by the hardy 

 mountaineers, who are acquainted with rough clothes and 

 coarse diet. 



From what has just been stated, it can be understood that the 

 Marmot is sought after ; and so we find that there are Marmot 

 hunters as there are Chamois hunters. These select for their 

 purpose the commencement of winter, when their prey are 

 entering into their hybernal state, and are consequently less 

 capable of making resistance. Their burrows are easily recog- 

 nised, for all the ground around is strewn with moss and hay : 

 dig up these retreats, and the whole family are found. In 

 summer, this procedure is impracticable — first, because the 

 Marmots vigorously defend themselves with tooth and nail 

 against any one who dares to violate their domicile ; and secondly, 

 because they can dig as rajjidly as Man, and as their enemy 

 advances, the deeper they bury themselves in the side of the 

 mountain. In certain Swiss cantons it is unlawful, and rightly 

 so, to dig out Marmots during the winter. It is a wise act 

 to protect defenceless animals against the cupiditj^ and the im- 

 providence of Man. 



After the Alpine Marmot, we may mention the Quebec Marmot, 

 the Maryland Marmot, or Woodchuck, which are peculiar to 

 certain parts of North America, and the Bobac or Poland 

 Marmot. The Prairie Dog (A. ludocicianus) is an allied species, 

 which lives in extensive communities in the wide prairies of 

 North America ; their villages, as the hunters term their 



