132 SciuRiD^. MAMMALIA. Sciurid.®. 
THE BOKKUL {Sciurus insignis). — This squirrel 
inhabits Sumatra and Java, where, from tlie observa- 
tions of Dr. Horsfield, it would appear to he a very rare 
species. The fur has a tawny gi’eyish-hrown colour 
generally, becoming ferruginous at the sides, and white 
beneath the belly ; its most characteristic feature con- 
sists in the presence of black bands, which pass from 
the region of the shoulder to the root of the tail. The 
body, including the last-named organ, is about thirteen 
inches long. This species, in common vdth other allied 
forms found in India and the adjacent islands, possesses 
a cylindrical tail ; the ears are also short and rounded. 
THE BALING {Sciurus Plcmtani) is likevdse a Java- 
nese form, and is extremely abundant everywhere in the 
island. It was first described by Ljimg in the twenty- 
second volume of the Swedish Transactions. The body 
is seven inches in length, exclusive of the tail, which 
rather exceeds this measimement. The fur has a beau- 
tifully variegated tawny-brown colour ; the inner parts 
of the limbs and the belly being of a lighter yellow. 
The tail is banded near its root by several dark rings. 
The Bajing lives principally among the tamarind and 
cocoa-nut trees. It is readily tamed. 
THE PALM SQUmREL {Sciurus palmarum). — This 
title is applied to several small species which are 
abundant in India and Africa, and are found most com- 
monly on palm-trees. They commit terrible ravages 
amongst the fruit, and though much hunted, do not 
appear to be at all shy. The general ground colour of 
their fur is reddish-brown, the surface being generally 
marked with a varying number of bands; the inferior 
parts of the belly and the inside of the limbs are pale 
3 'ellow; dark-coloured rings also occur on the tail. 
The body is about a foot in length from the tip of the 
nose to the extremity of the last-named appendage. 
THE FOUR-BANDED SQUIRREL {Sciurus qimclrivit- 
tatus) is thus named from the circumstance of its 
displaying four white lines on the back, these being 
separated from one another by intervening bars of a 
blackish colour. The sides of the body are reddish- 
brown, the under parts being lighter coloured. This 
species inhabits the wooded districts of North America. 
It is a remarkably lively creature, and when alarmed 
utters a chirping note, which often proves troublesome 
to the hunter when in quest of other animals dwelling 
in the same localities. 
THE GROUND SQUIRREL {Sciurus Lysteri), or 
II.-VCKEE, is an elegant little species, characterized by 
the possession of cheek pouches. It has a brownish- 
grey fur, subsiding into orange, and becoming white 
beneath the belly. The sides are also marked by a 
white band bordered with black, extending from the 
shoulder to the rump. The tail is comparatively short. 
The Hackee is a native of North America, being 
abundant on the shores of Lakes Huron and Superior. 
THE ALPINE MARMOT {Arctouiys marmotta) — 
Plate 14, fig. 44 — is a stout-built animal, about the size 
of a rabbit, measuring sixteen inches long, excluding 
the thick-set tail, which gives us six inches more. It 
inhabits the loftiest slopes of the Alps and Pyrenees, 
immediately beneath the snow line. The fur has a 
yellowish-grey colour, becoming brownish-gi-ey about 
the head. Its food consists of insects, as well as veget- 
able matters. Its burrows in the earth have three 
chambers and two outlets, several retreating into the 
same hole. When alarmed they utter shrill cries, and 
also on the approach of storms. The female produces 
three or four young at a birth. 
THE POLISH MARMOT {Arctomys Bobac), or BobAC, 
is an inhabitant of the smaller hills of eastern Europe 
and Siberia, extending all the way from Poland to 
Kamtschatka. The fur exhibits a yellowish-grey colour, 
the hairs about the head having a russet tint. This 
species corresponds very closely vdth the preceding in 
size and general appearance. 
THE SOUSLIK {Spermophilus citellus) is a native of 
Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, and Siberia. It is an 
attractive-looking species, its gTeyish-broivn fur being 
prettily marked with small white spots. It belongs to 
the group of marmots possessing cheek pouches. It is 
said to have a decided liking for animal food, and will 
occasionally devour its own species. 
THE QUEBEC MARMOT {Arctomys emjjetra) is, as 
the title implies, a native of Canada. In appearance it 
closely resembles the bobac, whilst its habits are similar 
to those of its congeners generally. The fur exhibits a 
hoary aspect, rvitli shades of brown and black intermixed, 
passing into reddish orange beneath. The tail is about 
half the length of the body, and black at the extremity. 
THE SHORT-TAILED MARMOT {Arctomys hrachy- 
urus) is an inhabitant of the plains of Columbia, and is 
characterized by a brownish-grey fur, variegated with 
red, this colour becoming more conspicuous underneath 
the belly. The tail is not shorter than that of several 
allied species. This animal lives in large companies, 
a single burrow containing ten or twelve occupants. 
On being disturbed they utter a shrill whistling cry. 
PENNANTS’ MARMOT {Arctomys pruinosus) is de- 
scribed under the title of the Whistler by Harmon 
and Sir John Richardson. It is a lai’ge species; a 
specimen taken on the banks ot the Mackenzie River 
measuring twenty-seven inches in length. The fur is 
long, coarse, and of a yellowish-brorvn colour, the tail 
being darker and bushy. The Whistler is foimd occu- 
pying the slopes of the Rocky Mountains. The female 
produces two young at a bu'th. 
THE MARYLAND MARMOT {Arctomys monax), or 
Wood-chuck, is a well-kno^vn native of the central 
districts of the United States, where it is regarded bj' 
farmers as a pest, since it proves very destructive to 
the crops of red clover. The habits of these animals 
are social and diurnal ; for having placed sentinels 
before their burrows, they wander forth in mid-day to 
commit their havoc. They are very prolific, the female 
producing six young at a birth. The fur of the adult 
has a grey ferruginous colour generally. 
THE PRAIRIE MARMOT {Arctomys latrans), or 
WiSTONWiSH, is another American species, abounding 
on the banks of the Missouri and its tributaries. The 
fur is of a reddish-bro'wm colour, the inferior parts being 
whitish. The tail is short and banded near the tip. 
When alarmed this creature utters a peculiar barking 
sound, whence it is often called the prairie dog. Its 
habits are gregarious, hundreds of them forming a 
eolony, where they construct deep burrows ; the entranee 
to each hole being surrounded by an elevated mound. 
