ALPINE MARMOT. 
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has four large cutting teeth., like those of the 
hare kind, but it uses them to much more advan- 
tage., since in this animal,, they are very formidadle 
weapons of defence. However, it is in general a 
very inoffensive animal ; and, except its enmity 
to dogs, seems to live in friendship with every 
creature, unless when provoked. If not prevented, 
it is very apt to gnaw the furniture of a house, and 
even to make holes through wooden partitions % 
from whence, perhaps, it has been compared to 
the rat. As its legs are very short, and made 
somewhat like those of a bear, it is often seen 
sitting up, and even walking on its bind legs in 
like manner ; but with the fore paws, as was 
said, it uses to feed itself in the manner of a 
squirrel. Like the hare kind, it runs much 
swifter up hill than down ; it climbs trees with 
great ease, and runs up the clifts of rocks, or the 
contiguous walls or houses, with great facility. 
It is ludicrously said, that the Savoyarbs, who arc 
the only chimney-sweepers of Paris, have learned 
this art from the marmot, which is bred in the 
game country. 
These animals eat indiscriminately of whatever 
is presented to them ; flesh, bread, fruits, herbs, 
roots, pulse, and insects. But they are particularly 
fond of milk and butter. Although less inclined 
to petty thefts than the cat, yet they always try 
to steal into the dairy, where they lap up the 
milk like a cat, purring all the while like that 
animal, as an expression of their being pleased. 
As to the rest, milk is the only liquor they like. 
They seldom drink water, and refuse wine. When 
pleased, or caressed, they often yelp like puppies ; 
hut when irritated, or frighted, they have a piercing 
note that hurts the ear. They are very cleanly 
animals, and, like the cat, retire upon necessary 
occasions ; but their bodies have a disagreeable 
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