70 ALPINE MARMOT, 
scent, particularly in the heat of summer. This 
tinctures their flesh, which, being very fat and firm* 
would be very good, were not this flavour always 
found to predominate. 
We have hitherto been describing affections in 
this animal wfyich it has in common with many 
others ; but we now come to one which distinguishes 
it from most other quadrupeds ; this is, its sleeping 
during the whiter. The marmot, though a native of 
the highest mountains, and where the snow is never 
wholly melted, nevertheless seems to feel the in- 
fluence of the cold more than any other, and in a 
manner has ail its faculties chilled up in winter. 
This extraordinary suspension of life and motion 
for more than half a year, deserves our wonder, 
and excites our attention, to consider the manner 
pf such a temporary death, and the subsequent re- 
vival. But first to describe, before we attempt to 
discuss. 
The marmot, usually at the end of September 
or the beginning of October, prepares to fit up 
its habitation for the winter, from which it is never 
seen to issue till about the beginning or middle 
of April. This animal's little retreat is made with 
great precaution, and fitted up with art. It is $ 
hole on the side of a mountain, extremely deep, 
with a spacious apartment at the bottom, which 
is rather longer than it is broad. In this several 
marmots can reside at the same time, without 
crowding each other, or injuring the air they breathe. 
The feet and claws of this animal seem made 
for digging ; and, in fact, they burrow into the 
ground with amazing facility, scraping up the 
earth like a rabbit, and throw ing back what they 
have thus loosened behind them. But the form of 
their hole is still more wonderful ; it resembles 
the letter Y ; the two branches being two openings, 
5|hich conduct into one channel, and terminate 
