MAMMALIA. 
I 52 
half-grown chickens that had taken up their abode in the under- 
brush back of my office, Dr. A. K. Fisher, who was with me at the 
time, betook himself thither and much to his surprise found a 
Woodchuck to be the cause of the disturbance. The animal was 
chasing the fowls with much earnestness, and evidently meant to 
catch one ; while the poor chickens, already well-nigh exhausted, 
were straining every nerve to escape. Fearing that the beast 
(which was a young and ambitious female) might propagate a race 
of Woodchucks that would rank among the depredators of the 
poultry yard, the Doctor brought the chase to an abrupt termina- 
tion and added the rodent’s skeleton to my osteological cabinet. 
This is the only example that has thus far come to my knowledge 
where a Woodchuck has pursued either bird or beast, and the 
question may be fairly asked whether in this instance it purposed 
to seize and devour the fowl, or, being of a jocose turn of mind, 
was merely chasing it to see it run, just as a puppy would do under 
similar circumstances. 
Dr. Godman, who once had a tame Woodchuck, speaks thus of 
its habit of lugging various articles into its burrow : “ Every thing 
fit to make a bed of, that he could get at, was sure to be carried 
under ground, and when clothes were missed, which had been hung 
out to dry, it was only necessary to fasten a hook to a long stick 
and draw them out of his burrow. When this was to be effected, 
it was necessary to tie the Marmot up short, as he appeared to 
understand perfectly what was to be done, and was by no means 
willing that his bed should be rendered less comfortable. Although 
he would not attempt to bite the person engaged in removing his 
plunder, he would rush to the entrance and endeavor to make his 
way in, as if to secure his prize, or remove it to a still greater dis- 
tance. On one occasion he carried off and stowed at a distance of 
six feet from the entrance, eight pairs of stockings, a towel, and a 
girl’s frock, and had he not been discovered in the act, would have 
