164 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY, 
[52.] 8. Arcromys (SpeRMopuiLus) Ricuarpsonu. (Sabine.) 
The Tawny Marmot, 
Arctomys Richardsonii, SapineE, Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 589.t. 28. IpEm, Franklin’s Journ., p.662. 3 
GrirFitH, An. Kingd.,vol.v. p. 246. No. 639, Bririsn Museum, Spec. 110, 
Tawny American Marmot. Gopman, Nat. Hist. vol. ii. p. 111. D 
A. SPERMOPHILUS (Richardsonit) super cervinus pilis nigris interspersis subter pallidior, cauda brevi corpore 
concolori margine pallido, auriculis brevissimis. 
Tawny Marmot, with cheek-pouches ; back yellowish-gray, interspersed with black hairs; belly pale grayish-orange 5 
a short tail coloured like the body with a pale margin ; very short ears. 
PLATE Xt. 
This animal inhabits the grassy plains that lie between the north and south 
branches of the Saskatchewan River, living in deep burrows, formed in the sandy 
soil. It is very common in the neighbourhood of Carlton-house, its burrows being 
scattered at short distances over the whole plain. It can scarcely be said to live in 
villages, though there are sometimes three or four of its burrows on a sandy hum- 
mock, or other favourable spot. The burrows are proportionable to the size of the 
animal, generally fork or branch off near the surface, and descend obliquely down- 
wards to a considerable depth ; some few of them have more than one entrance. 
The earth scraped out in forming them is thrown up in a small mound at the mouth 
of the hole, and on it the animal seats itself on its hind-legs, to overlook the short 
grass, and reconnoitre before it ventures to make an excursion. In the spring, 
there are seldom more than two, and most frequently only one individual seen at 
a time at the mouth ofa hole; and although I have captured many of them at that 
season, by pouring water into their burrows, and compelling them to come out, I 
have never obtained more than one from the same hole, unless when a stranger 
has been chased into a burrow already occupied by another. There are many 
little, well-worn pathways diverging from each burrow, and some of these roads 
are observed, in the spring, to lead directly to the neighbouring holes, being most 
probably formed by the males going in quest of a mate. The males fight when 
they meet on these excursions, and it not unfrequently happens that the one which 
is worsted loses a part of its tail as he endeavours to escape, They place no 
sentinels, and there appears to be no concert between the tawny marmots 
residing in the neighbourhood, every individual looking out for himself, They 
