THE MARMOT. 159 
killed near a burrow, and when the reptile was dissected, a Prairie Dog was 
found in its stomach. 
THE common MARMOT is about the size of an ordinary rabbit, and not 
very unlike that animal in colour. The general tint of the fur is greyish 
yellow upon the back and flanks, deepening into black-grey on the top of the 
head, and into black on the extremity of the tail. It is very common in all 
the mountainous districts of Northern Europe, where it associates in small 
societies. The Marmot is an expert excavator, and digs very large and rather 
complicated burrows, always appearing to reserve one chamber as a store- 
house for the heap of dried grasses and other similar substances which it 
amasses for the purpose of sustaining life during the winter. The chamber 
in which the animal lives and sleeps is considerably larger than the store- 
house, measuring, in some cases, as much as seven feet in diameter. The 
tunnel which leads to these chambers is only just large enough to admit the 
body of the animal, and is about six feet in length, 
WY 
MARMOT.—(A7r’ctomys Marmotta.) 
To these burrows the Marmot retires about the middle of September, and 
after closing the entrance with grass and earth, enters into the lethargic 
hibernating state, and does not emerge until the beginning of April. Like 
other hibernating animals, they are very fat just before they take.up their 
winter quarters, and as their fur is then in the best condition, they are 
eagerly sought after by the human inhabitants of the same country. The 
burrow of the Marmot is always dug in dry soil, and is seldom known to be 
at all above, or very much below, the line of perpetual snow. : 
AT the end of the rodents are placed the singular animals which are 
grouped together under the title of Aspaldcide, or Mole Rats, the word 
Aspalax, or Spalax, being the Greek term for a mole. The incisor teeth of 
‘these animals are extremely large, and project beyond the lips. The external 
ears are either wholly wanting or are of very smafl dimensions. The eyes are 
small, and in some species are concealed by the skin. The body is heavily 
and clumsily made, the tail is either very short or entirely absent, and the 
head is large and rounded. 
THE common MOLE RAT, which is also known by its Russian name of 
