SPOTTED MARMOT. 
Persia ; and China ; but is now rarely found in 
the rest of Europe. It dwells in open, high, 
I dry and uncultivated places ; preferring turfy 
and loamy soils, near the high roads; and 
never frequents either bogs or woods. Each 
individual has it's separate burrows; in which, 
for provision, in the beginning and end of 
winter, it lays up magazines of grain, tender 
vegetables, and berries: sometimes, though 
rarely, the carcases of Mice, and of small birds^ 
are added. In the middle of winter, it lies 
torpid during the greatest severity of the frost. 
The burrows of the Females are dug deeper 
than those of the Males. From the very be- 
ginning of spring, as soon as the weather be- 
comes mild, they go out in the day-tim.e, in 
quest of food ; which they eat sitting on their 
haunches, carrying it in their fore-paws to the 
mouth. The Male is very easily tamed; but 
' the Female is fierce, more given to bite, and 
less easily made tame. She goes between three 
and four weeks with young; and brings fdrthj 
about the beginning of May, from three to 
eight young. The fur is very good in the 
spring, and the flesh is reckoned tolerable. 
• They are preyed an by Polecats, Weasels, 
1^ Hawks, 
i 
