158 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 
[50.] 6. Arcromys (Spermoruitus) Parryi. (Richardson.) 
Parry's Marmot. 
Grenus Arctomys. GmEtry. Cuvier. Sub-genus Spermophilus. F. Cuvier. 
Ground squirrel. Hrarner’s Journey, pp. 141 and 386. 
Quebec marmot. Forsren, Phil. Trans., lxii. p. 378. 
Arctomys alpina. Parnry’s Second Voy., p. 61, Narrative. 
Arctomys Parryi. Ricuarpson, Parry’s Second Voy., App., p. 316. 
Seek-Seek. Esquimaux. Thee-thiay (Rock badger.) CuEPEWYANSs. 
A. SpERMOPHILUS (Parryi) auriculis brevissimis, corpore super griseo nigrove creberrime albo guttato; subter 
helvolo, vultu badio, caudé pedes posticos extensos terlid parte superante plana versus apicem nigra margine 
extimo albescenti subtus helvold. 
Parry’s Marmot, with cheek-pouches, very short ears, body thickly spotted above with white ona gray or black ground, 
pale rust-coloured beneath, face chestnut-coloured, the tail one-third part longer than the hind-feet, 
stretched out flat, black at the extremity, with a narrow white margin, rust-coloured beneath. 
PrarE x, 
This spermophile inhabits the barren grounds skirting the sea-coast from 
Churchill in Hudson’s Bay round by Melville Peninsula, and the whole northern 
extremity of the continent to Behring’s Straits, where specimens precisely similar 
were procured by Captain Beechey. It abounds in the neighbourhood of Fort 
Enterprise, near the southern verge of the barren grounds, in latitude 65°, and is 
also plentiful on Cape Parry, one of the most northern parts of the continent. It 
is found generally in stony districts, but seems to delight chiefly in sandy hillocks 
amongst rocks, where burrows, inhabited by different individuals, may be often 
observed crowded together. One of the society is generally observed sitting erect 
on the summit of the hillock, whilst the others are feeding in the neighbourhood. 
Upon the approach of danger, he gives the alarm, and they instantly betake them- 
selves to their holes, remaining chattering, however, at the entrance until the 
advance of the enemy obliges them to retire to the bottom. When their retreat 
is cut off, they become much terrified, and seeking shelter in the first crevice that 
offers, they not unfrequently succeed only m hiding the head and fore-part of the 
body, whilst the projecting tail is, as is usual with them when under the influence 
of terror, spread out flat on the rock. Their cry, in this season of distress, strongly 
resembles the loud alarm of the Hudson’s Bay Squirrel, and is not very unlike the 
sound of a watchman’s rattle. The Esquimaux name of the animal seeh-seek is an 
attempt to express this‘sound. According to Hearne, they are easily tamed, and 
are very cleanly and playful in a domestic state. They never come abroad during 
