CLASS I. MAMMALIA: OKDER 7. RODENTIA, 359 
WOODCHDCKS. 
The Long-tailed Marmot, A. caudatus, says Gervais, is found in Asia, in the valley of the 
Gombour ; J acquemont met with it seventeen thousand feet above the level of the sea. It makes 
its burrows, which usually open among the rocks, in countries well stocked with vegetable pro- 
ducts. Here it accumulates great quantities of dried herbage, which serves it for food during its 
winter coufinement, the first and latter part of which it is not probably dormant. When it comes 
forth, in the spring, it is observed to be very lean. 
The Maryland Marmot, or Woodchuck, has had the usual honor bestowed on the noto- 
rious — that of receiving various popular names, to which may be added, in this case, an 
equal variety of scientific names. In Canada, it is called Ground Hof/,. Siffleur, and sometimes 
Marmot ; in Hudson's Bay, ThicTc-iuood Badger; Tarbagan^ by the Prussians of Russian America; 
Weenusk, by the Crees, and Kath-Mllos-kooay^ by the Chippeways. Linneeus called it Mus 
Monax ; Buifon, Marinotte de Canada; Pennant, Quebec Marmot; Pallas, Mus Empetra ; 
Goodman, Richardson, and others, Arctomys Empetra^ which is its present accepted scientific 
designation. Woodchuck is the popular title throughout the United States. 
Despite this multiplicity of titles, this animal is not particularly interesting in its character. It 
resembles the Alpine Marmot, though it is somewhat larger. It is, however, destitute of the 
amusing qualities of that species ; it is not easily tamed, and, under all circumstances, is a rather 
surl^^ creature. The body is thick and squat, and the legs so short that the belly seems to graze 
the ground. The size varies from sixteen to twenty inches, eighteen being the average ; the tail 
is four inches. The color also differs in different specimens ; the body being generally brownish- 
gray above, and reddish-brown below. The head, tail, and feet are blackish-browai ; the nose and 
cheeks ashy-brown. They are fond of sitting erect on their haunches, letting their fore-feet hang 
loosely down. They maintain an erect position in feeding, bending the head and neck forward 
and sideways. They remain the greater part of the day asleep in their burrows, occasionally, 
however, coming out and looking around. In the evening, they go forth and feed on grass of 
different kinds, fruits, and vegetables. In New England, they are common among the cultivated 
grounds, and do much damage in the clover-fields, not only eating the grass, but treading it down ; 
they often make great havoc among the pumpkins and the Indian corn when it is in the milk. 
From three to eight young are produced at a time ; they advance rapidly, and in three weeks 
may be seen playing around the burrows. 
The woodchuck is not often found very far from his burrow in the daytime. When thus sur- 
prised, he runs very fast, and if not seriously frightened, stops, and perhaps squats on the ground, 
