MARMOTS. 
81 
of sleep is considerably shortened, while the species in the extreme south remain 
more or less active throughout the winter. The striped gopher seems to be more 
decidedly carnivorous in its habits than the common suslik, devouring not only 
field-voles and other mice, but also some of the smaller species of squirrels, which 
cannot even live in a district abounding with gophers. Dr. Hoy states that, when 
a squirrel is put into the same cage with a striped gopher, the latter “ will in a 
moment be all animation and activity, darting at the intruder, inflicting a wound, 
and flying back with such rapidity as to leave but little chance of defence. As 
soon as it has disabled its antagonist, it seizes it by the back of the neck and 
instantly kills it.” The gopher during the combat utters a low snarling growl, and 
after the death of its victim feasts on the brain and blood. This gopher also 
frequently robs hens’ nests, while other species have been detected in carrying off 
young chickens and turkeys. More remarkable is the circumstance that Richardson’s 
gopher (S. richardsoni ) was formerly in the habit of feeding on the flesh of the 
innumerable carcases of bison left by the hunters on the prairies. 
Writing of the habits of Parry’s suslik (S. empetra), from the neighbourhood 
of Hudson Bay and Behring Strait,—a species closely allied to Eversmann’s suslik 
of Siberia,—Sir J. Richardson observes that “ it is found generally in stony districts, 
but seems to delight chiefly in sandy hillocks amongst rocks, where burrows, in¬ 
habited by different individuals, may be often observed crowded together. One of 
the society is generally observed sitting erect on the summit of the hillock, whilst 
the others are feeding in the neighbourhood. Upon the approach of danger, he 
gives the alarm, and they instantly betake themselves to their holes, remaining 
chattering, however, at the entrances, until the advance of the enemy obliges them 
to retire to the bottom.” 
The Prairie-Marmots. 
Genus Cynomys. 
In addition to being the home of several species of true marmots akin to 
those of the Old World, North America also possesses a closely allied, but 
somewhat more specialised genus of Rodents, which may be designated prairie- 
marmots, although they are often most inappropriately termed prairie-dogs, while 
they are likewise known as barking squirrels. In size these animals hold a 
position intermediate between the susliks and the true marmots. They have small 
ears, and generally short tails, while their cheek-pouches are much less capacious 
than those of the susliks. In their fore-feet the first toe is well developed and 
furnished with a claw nearly as large as that of the fifth. The skull is massive, 
with the large postorbital processes directed nearly outwards (as shown in the 
figure on p. 66); and the molar teeth are very stout, with three grooves on their 
grinding-surfaces, in place of the two characterising those of the other two genera 
of the group. A further peculiarity in connection with the upper molar teeth, is 
that the two series, in place of running nearly parallel, are convergent behind. 
There are three species of prairie-marmots, two of which are confined to the 
prairies of the Rocky Mountain plateau, while the third inhabits Mexico. The 
common prairie-marmot (Cynomys ludovicianus ) is confined to the drier districts 
vol. in. —6 
