LEWIS’S MARMOT. 
33 
DIMENSIONS. 
From nose to root of tail, - 
Tail (vertebras), - 
“ (to end of hair), - 
Point of nose to ear, - 
“ “ to eye, - 
Heel to middle claw, - 
Feet. 
1 
Inches 
4 
2 
3 
2 
1 
2i 
HABITS. 
From the form of this animal we may readily be convinced that it pos- 
sesses the characteristics of the true Marmots. These animals are destitute 
of cheek-pouches ; they burrow in the earth ; live on grasses and grains ; 
seldom climb trees, and when driven to them by a dog do not mount high, 
but cling to the bark, and descend as soon as the danger is over. As far 
as we have been able to ascertain, all the spermophiles or burrowing 
squirrels are gregarious, and live in communities usually numbering 
several hundreds, and often thousands. On the contrary, the Marmots, 
although the young remain with the mother until autumn, are found to live 
solitarily, or at most in single pairs. It was not our good fortune ever to 
have met with this species in a living state, hence we regret that we are 
unable to offer anything in regard to its peculiar habits. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
We have no doubt this species, like the other Marmots, has an extensive 
geographical range, but coming from so distant a part of our country as 
Oregon, which has been so little explored by naturalists, we are obliged to 
make use of the vague term “ shores of the Columbia river” as its habitat. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
We have not felt at liberty to quote any authorities or add any syno- 
nymes for this species, inasmuch as we cannot find that any author has 
referred to it. The specimen from which our figure was made, and which 
we believe is the only one existing in any collection, was sent to the 
Zoological Society by the British fur-traders who are in the habit of 
annually carrying their peltry down the Columbia river to the Pacific. It 
is labelled in the museum of the Zoological Society, No. 461, page 48 
Catalogue, Arctomys brachyura ? Harlan. The history of the supposed 
VOL. in. — 5 
