222 
THE MARMOT. 
This animal has been classed by some na' 
turalists with the rat kind^ while others refer 
it to the family of the hare. In size it ap' 
proaches much nearer to the former than to 
the latter genus ; but, if we examine its struC' 
ture, we shall find points of correspondence 
with both. The head, nose, and lips re- 
semble those of the hare, while the earS; 
teeth, and claws are like those of the rat. 
The marmot is indigenous to both the 
and New World. The Alpine marmot, whic^r 
is a native of the Alps, the Pyrenees, an<^ 
some other mountainous tracts of Europe, 
rather larger than a rabbit, being about siS' 
teen inches long, exclusively of the tail, w'hid* 
measures about six inches. The head is rathci 
large and flattish, the ears short and hidden 
