Kodentia. MAMMALIA. Kodemtia. 
xc 
elevations upon wliic’n they are wont to sit as senti- 
neis to warn tiie coininunity of approaciiing danger. 
In tile event of danger, tiiey emit a siiriii wiiistiing 
noise soinewiiat iike tweet! tweet! tweet! 'I'iieir food 
consists of tile roots of grass, etc. 
Arctojiys. — Schreler. 
'I’iiis genus iias ratlier sinaii grinding-teeth. The 
size of tile animai is iarge compared to others ; the 
body tiiick-set, broad and dejiressed. Tiie ciieek 
pouciies are stnaii ; tali ratiier siiort and bushy. Tiie 
ears are sinaii. Tiie naii of tiie poiiex is eitiier broad 
and Hat, or wanting. 'I’iie peiage is coarse, witii 
tiiick under fur. Aniniais of tiiis group are found 
tiirougiiout tiie nortiiern and iniddie portions of tiie 
iiortiiern iiemisphere, and not eisewiiere. 
THE WOODCHUCK [Arctomys monax, Linn., Schre- 
her). — Piate I, fig. iv. — The generic term indicates 
Pear-mouse, probabiy from tiie massive nature of tiie 
skuiis in tiiis group. Tiie iengtii of tiiis creature is 
about fourteen inciies. Its iiabitat extends from tiie 
(Jaroiinas nortiivvard to Hudson’s Bay, and westward 
from tiie Atiantic Coast to Western iMissouri, Iowa 
and Minnesota. 'I’iie specific name monax was first 
given by Linnaeus in describing tiie “ Monax or i\Jar- 
motte of America.” In tiie Atiantic States it is 
caiied Ground Hog, or Woodciiuck. Tiiis creature is 
very common in tiie country-side, yet few reaiiy know 
it, its iiabits being ratlier crepuscular. It selects the 
under side of some large boulder, or tiie stump of a 
iarge tree, wliere it constructs a deep burrow. It is 
said to be social in its iiabits, several animals bur- 
rowing near eacli otiier. “ We noticed tliirtyor forty 
burrows in one field,” — DeKay. It brings forth four 
or five at a litter. Tiie burrow is said to contain 
large excavations, in wliicli tiie aiiinial stores its 
provisions. It liybernates in tiie colder season, after 
carefully closing tiie entrance to its burrow. Tiie 
Woodciiuck is said to be common in the mountainous 
districts of tiie Carolinas, but is not known on tiie 
sea-sliore. 
KOOKY MOUNTAIN MARMOT [Arctomys Jiavivcnter, 
And. and Bach .) — Tiiis species was first described 
by Audubon and Bacliman, in 1841, from a specimen 
brouglit from tiie mountains of Galifornia, near 
'I’exas. Its nortiiern range _ is proliably about tiie 
forty-nintli parallel. It is seemingly a strictly Alpine 
species, and is gregarious in liabit, like tiie European 
Marmot. Its size is considerably more tliaii tliat of 
tiie Woodciiuck, measuring in some instances eigli- 
teen and a lialf indies, 'I’lie tail to the end of the 
liairs measures nearly ten indies. Tiie color is, above, 
a mixed gray, fulvous and reddish-brown ; below, it 
is ydlowisli or golden, varying to rufous. Tiie ears 
are ratlier small. Tiie tail is long, round, full and 
busily. Melanistic specimens are quite common. 
.Mr. Allen says : “At Montgomery, Golorado, wliere 
tills species occurs in great abundance, and wliere I 
liave seen a dozen or more sitting on tiie rocks at 
one time witliin easy rifie-sliot, generally several 
black ones were to be seen associated with the 
others, as well as others more or less blackish.” The 
principal difi’erence in the two species is the larger 
size of the present one ; its smaller ears and longer 
tail are also marked in comparison. 'I’lie color of 
this iMarmot is sometimes a rich golden upon the 
upper surfaces. There are also some dilferences in 
the cranium. 
THE HOARY MARMOT [Arctomys pruinosus, 
Gmelin ). — This is also called the Whistler. 'I’lie 
e.xtreme size of this species, and its entirely different 
coloration, renders it readily distinguished. 'I’he 
European Marmot resembles it more closely in size 
and color than any other. 'I'he rudimentary thumb, 
which is present in all American species, is wanting 
in the European. Pennant first described the Hoary 
Marmot in 1781, from a specimen taken in Hudson’s 
Bay. It is said to extend north to the Arctic Circle, 
the Columbia River being its southern limit. Its 
length is from twenty-three to twenty-five inches, the 
tail being nearly half as long. Its color is a clear gray- 
ish-white, varied with black. The ears are quite small, 
well clothed, and nearly concealed by the surround- 
ing pelage. The tail is full and round. 
Family— IIAPLODONT1DJ5. 
'I’liis is a very peculiar group or family, founded 
upon the existence of a single species of Rodent, 
called by the natives Sewellel. The teeth are : In- 
cisors, ; Premolars, f- f ; Molars, §-|. All are 
rootless, prismatic in shape, and simple. The clavi- 
cles are perfect. An interesting and thorough report 
of the family characteristics are recorded by Dr. 
Coues, in his Monograph, which forms one of the 
series in Dr. Hayden’s Report on the Eodentia, 1877. 
Dr. Coues says : “ The general tendency has been of 
late years to associate Haplodon more or less inti- 
mately with Castor, and to refer both to the Sciurine 
series, if not to the Sciuridm itself.” 'I’he skull, he 
remarks, is strongly and unmistakably sciuromorphic. 
In its habits, too, there is a resemblance. 
Haplodon. — Rich. 
'i'his genus has been variously named, as ; Aplodon- 
tia, Apluodontia, Haploodon, etc. The present term 
has reference to its sinqile teeth. Its characters are 
seen in its stout and heavy form, its cylindrical body, 
short limbs, the broad and Hat head, the short terete 
and hirsute tail, the very long and bristly whiskers, 
the absence of cheek pouches, the diminutive eyes and 
long bristly hair, with woolly under fur. In progres- 
sion it is plantigrade. In habit it is fossorial and 
gregarious. Its voice is shrill, and its food is entirely 
of vegetable matter. 
THE SEWELLEL [Haplodon rufus, Raf., Coues ). — 
'I’his interesting animal was first discovered in 1805, 
by the famous travelers, Lewis and Clark, in the 
country near the mouth of the Columbia River. 
'I’he jiresent name is that which the natives gave it. 
'I’he Indians make great use of the skins, which they 
dress with the fur on, and fasten together with 
sinews of the Elk and Deer. It mounts a tree and 
burrows in the ground precisely like a Squirrel. Dr. 
Newberiy says of it : “ 'I’his remarkable animal seems 
limited to a narrow district when compared with 
