170 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 
+ 10. Arctomys (Spermopuitus) Beecneyi. (Richardson.) 
Beechey’s Marmot. 
Quauhtecallotlquapachtli, ant Coztiocotequallin. FERNANDEZ, Quad. Nov. Hisp., p. 8.? nec tamen “ Le 
Coquallin” du BUFFON. 
A. SPERMOPHILUS (Beecheyi), auriculis conspicuis, corpore super rufescenti-albo fuligneoque minute maculato 
undulatove subter cervino, caudd elongata e nigro canescenti. 
Beechey’s Marmot, with cheek-pouches, conspicuous ears ; body above minutely spotted or waved with reddish- 
white marks on ablackish-brown ground, under parts pale brownish-yellow ; an unusually long, round 
tail of a mixed black and white colour. 
Pirate xu B. 
Mr. Collie, surgeon of His Majesty’s ship Blossom, informs me that this kind 
of Spermophile “ burrows in great numbers in the sandy declivities and dry plains 
in the neighbourhood of San Francisco and Monterey, in California, close to the 
houses. They frequently stand up on their hind legs when looking round about 
them. In running, they carry the tail generally straight out, but when passing 
over any little inequality, it is raised, as if to prevent its being soiled. In rainy 
weather, and when the fields are wet and dirty, they come but little above ground. 
They take the alarm when any one passes within twenty or thirty yards of them, 
and run off at full speed till they reach the mouth of their hole, where they stop a 
little and then enter it. They soon come out again, but with caution, and if not 
molested will proceed to their usual occupations of playing or feeding. Artemisias 
and other vegetable matters were found in their stomachs.” 
I have not met with any description or notice of this animal by preceding 
writers unless my quotation of Fernandez be correct. In colour, size, appearance 
of the tail, and in general form, it approaches closely to the Arctomys Franklini ; its 
most evident distinctive character being the greater size of its ears. The specific 
name has been adopted in honour of the able and scientific Commander of the 
Blossom. The Arctomys Beecheyi is an inhabitant of more southern districts than 
that to which this work is confined ; but it is introduced here for the purpose of 
giving as complete a list as possible of the American marmots, which, until very 
lately, have not received their due share of attention. 
