SPOTTED MARMOT. 
These animals generally dwell in the de- 
sarts ; and dig holes in the declivities of 
mountains, provided the earth be blackish. 
Their holes are not of equal depths ; and are 
seven or eight feet long : never straight, but 
winding; and having from two to five entries, 
the distances of which are unequal, being from 
two to seven feet asunder. In these holes they 
nake different apartments ; and amass in them, 
iuri^ng the summer, their winter provisions. 
In the cultivated fields, they collect ears of corn, 
peas, linseed, and hemp-seed; and place them, 
separately, in different departments of their 
loles. In uncultivated lands, they collect the 
jieeds of various herbs. During summer, they 
feed on grain, herbs, roots, and young Mice ; 
"or, when the Mice are large, the Souslik is 
jinable to kill them. Besides their magazines 
)f provisions, these animals dig separate holes, 
jome feet distant from the former, in which 
hey repose. They throv/ all their ordure out 
)f their retreats. The Females bring forth 
rom two to five young at a litter; which are 
'lind, and naked, and begin not to see till after 
he hair appears. The time of gestation is 
;0t exactly known." 
The 
