14 



NORTH AMEEICAKT FAUl^A. 



[No. 37. 



the machines are liable to be dulled or broken by running into piles 

 of earth or rocks. Vernon Bailey states that he has seen an acre of 

 oats on a hillside in New York State almost ruined by a family of 

 woodchucks, their trails having broken down most of the grain which 

 they had not cut to eat. 



The fur of the American marmots is not at present used com- 

 mercially, but the hides of hoary marmots are employed to some 

 extent by the Indians of western Canada for maldng robes. The fur 

 of this animal is fully as good as that of the European and of some of 

 the Asiatic species, all of which figure extensively in the fur trade. 

 Furthermore, the American animal is larger than most of the Eura- 

 sian species, and the color pattern of its skin is such as to make a 

 very handsome natural fur. If a sufficient number of these pelts 

 could be secured in late autumn when they are in prime condition 

 there would seem to be every reason for utilizing them in the fur 

 trade. In parts of Alaska and northern British Columbia the 

 animals are very abundant, and Indians of that region annually cap- 

 ture large numbers both for fur and flesh. The yeUow-footed 

 marmots are considerably smaller than the hoary marmots, but their 

 pelage is long, full, and silky, and could readily be made into a very 

 attractive fur. The pelage of the eastern woodchuck is much coarser 

 and thinner and has never been considered of much value for fur; 

 the hides, however, are tough and durable and might be utilized for 

 some lands of leather. Farmers' boys often tan the skins of the 

 eastern woodchuck and make them into shoe strings, whip lashes, ball 

 covers, or mit facings. 



The flesh of marmots is said to be palatable and in certain regions 

 of the Northwest furnishes an important food supply for the native 

 Indians. 



MARMOTS AS CARRIERS OP DISEASE. 



For many years the opinion has generally prevailed that the mar- 

 mots of central Asia are in some way concerned in the spread of the 

 plague, and this theory was accepted even as late as 1911 by the 

 members of the International Plague Conference held at Mukden in 

 April of that year. Accounts have frequently been pubUshed in 

 medical Hterature of the appearance of the disease among ^'tar- 

 bagan" ^ hxmters under circumstances pointing strongly to the 

 possibihty of infection from handling the animals or consuming their 

 flesh, but unfortunately none of these accounts show& bacteriological 

 evidence of the existence of the plague among marmots, nor do they 

 demonstrate conclusively that the disease is contracted in any way 

 from the animals.^ 



1 This is the name applied in medical literature to the marmots of Asia. It is said to be of Mongolian 

 origin. The Russian name of the animal is " churok. " 



2 See especially an article by Dr. Frank G. Clemow, Jour. Trop. Medicine, February, 1900, pp.169-174. 



