OEDEE OF EODENTIA. 
485 
This animal leads a solitary life, and excavates a deep burrow, 
with several outlets, where it stores up grain of all sorts. How- 
ever, these reserves are scarcely needed, for it lies in a torpid 
state during the winter. Its flesh is said to be agreeable, and 
its fur is much esteemed. 
Several species of Spermophiles are found in North America. 
One of them, the Striped Spermophilus (Fig. 210), is so named 
because it has the back marked with three longitudinal bands, 
alternately white and brown, the latter being interspersed with 
white spots. 
Genus Marmot . — Between the lively, graceful, well-proportioned 
Squirrels and the Marmots, with their squat bodies and sluggish 
Pig. 210. — Striped or Hood’s Spermophilus ( Spermophylus Hoodu). 
movements, the difference is certainly considerable. Yet, not- 
withstanding this, the Marmots are allied to the Squirrels through 
the Spermophiles. 
The Marmots are characterised by very long, powerful incisors, 
strong claws, indicating burrowing habits, and by a tail of 
medium length, somewhat thickly garnished with hair. They 
have short limbs, and from that results the slowness of move- 
ment peculiar to them. Their ears are scarcely apparent, and 
their upper lip is cleft in the middle — a feature which is also 
common to several other Rodents. 
The Marmots inhabit different chains of mountains in Europe, 
Asia, and North America. They have nearly all the same habits ; 
