360 
VERTEBRATA. 
looking slyly around to see if he is noticed. In case of extremity, lie takes refuge in a stone 
wall, or the crevice of a rock, and on being closely approached, he utters a kind of gurgling sound, 
mingled with chattering; at other times he has a shrill, whistle-like note, whence the French- 
Canadian name of Siffleur, whistler. In defending himself, he bites severely, and makes desper- 
ate battle with a dog, often with such success as to escape. His walk is plantigrade, but he occa- 
sionally cHmbs trees and bushes to the height of a few feet, and sometimes takes a nap in the 
sun, while reclining on one of the branches. He cleans and combs his face, sitting on his hind- 
legs, in the manner of a squirrel, and licks down and smoothes his fur in the manner of a cat. 
His hide is loose and tough, and was formerly much in vogae for whip-lashes; it is still occasion- 
ally used for that purpose. The fur is of no value. The flesh is flabby, and, though of a rank 
flavor, when cooked like roast-pig it can be eaten, if one has a vigorous appetite. In summer it 
is very fat. 
This species becomes torpid about the latter part of October; they are solitary in their habits, 
and do not congregate in societies, like the other marmots, beyond the members of one family. 
It is believed that they eat nothing during the period of their hibernation. Their burrows are 
usually on the slope of a hill, frequently near the root of a tree, sometimes beneath rocks, and 
often in stone walls. They extend from twenty to thirty feet fi'om the openings, descending 
obliquely at first, four or five feet, and then gradually rising to a large, round chamber, which is 
used as a sleeping-place for the family; here, also, the female produces and rears her young. The 
farmers of New England take them sometimes by pouring water in and drowning them out; fre- 
quently they are shot with rifles; more frequently still they are caught in steel-traps, set at the 
mouths of their burrows, these being sprinkled over with sand or light grass. One farmer in 
Litchfield county, Connecticut, told me that he caught sixty-four on his own grounds in a single 
season. 
We have read an interesting account of a woodchuck that was kept in confinement for two 
years. At first, it was wild and ill-natured, keeping itself concealed during the day, but making 
attempts to escape at night. At last, it became reconciled to its situation, and Hved in the kitchen 
on good terms with the cook, the cat, and the dog. It now occupied a box with a straw bed. 
When winter approached, though the box was in a warm corner of the kitchen, the animal ar- 
ranged its bed carefully, rolled itself into a ball with its nose buried in its abdomen, and 
became completely torpid. Thus it remained for six weeks. It was then taken out and rolled 
upon the carpet, not showing the least sign of animation. It was laid by the fire, and in about 
half an hour it slowly raised its head, looked round, and attempted to find its house. It was re- 
stored to its bed, where it remained in its strange repose till spring. 
What a wonderful provision of nature is this for those quadrupeds that inhabit a cold region, 
and which, living on green vegetables and juicy fruits, would perish, where the earth is bound 
in ice and snow for half the year, if compelled to obtain their daily meal ! How wise, how all- 
knowing is the Author of Nature, who can conceive the design of sustaining animal life Avithout 
food for half a year; how wonderful His skill who can so adapt means to ends as to accomplish 
this miracle, and make it a familiar example in a great variety of species ! 
The woodchuck is extensively distributed, being found in the Canadas, and thence south to the 
Carolinas, and west as far as the Rocky Mountains. In some places it is scarce, in others, it is 
very abundant. 
The Hoary Marmot, A. pruinosus, is also sometimes called Oround-Hog and Whistler, the latter, 
indeed, seeming to be its proper descriptive title. The Crees name it Quisquis-qui-po, and the 
Chippeways Deh-ie. It somewhat resembles both the Alpine and Maryland marmots ; its length 
is eighteen to twenty inches; its hair, long and dense, is hoary on the breast and shoulders, the 
hinder parts being a dull reddish-brown; the tail, which is bushy, is blackish-brown. It inhabits 
the Rocky Mountains, from latitude 46° to 62°, and probably farther north and south, as well as 
east and west. It is not found in the lower country. It burrows in sandy soil, generally in the 
sides of grassy hills, and may be frequently seen cutting hay in the winter, but whether for food 
or for lining its burrows is not known. While a company of them are thus occupied, they have 
a sentinel on the look-out upon an eminence, who gives the alarm in case of the approach of 
