MARMOT, a large ground-squirrel of the genus Arctomys, having terrestrial habits, rather coarse fur, no cheek-pouches, short limbs and powerful digging claws. In size they vary from about 15 to 25 inches in length, the tail adding from 3 to 12 inches. Several species inhabit the northern parts of the world, in southerly climates keeping themselves mostly upon moun tain heights, but farther north inhabiting lower levels, preferring open or thinly wooded plains. All dig and dwell in burrows, some species gath ering into extensive colonies, the hillocks about the mouths of the burrows forming communi ties similar to the "towns)) of the prairie-dogs; while other species dwell in families far apart from one another. They feed upon herbage and grow very fat in the autumn preparatory to hibernation during the cold months, when their dormancy is complete. Their underground sleeping-chambers are warmly furnished with dry leaves and hay. The European marmot (A. Alpinus) is found in plenty on the Alpine range, equals a rabbit in size and is light brown in color. It lives immediately below the snow line, and subsists on vegetables, insects and roots. They come forth from their burrows during the month of April, and are said to be readily tamed. The bobac, another European species (A. bobac), inhabits Poland, Russia and all northern Asia. A third species is found in the Himalayan ranges; and a fourth (A. caudatus), the 'largest and handsomest of the family, dwells in the valleys of their south erly slopes. These little animals are of great value to the wandering natives of northern and central Asia, who utilize both their skins and flesh. America has two marmots, one of which
is the siffleur or whistler of the tops of the northern Rocky Mountains, and the other the familiar Eastern woodchuck. The former takes its name from the loud eerie whistle with which it wakes the echoes of the crags about the lone pastures above timber-line, where it makes its home; it was of great service to the mountain Indians. Other species or varieties occur in the southern mountains of the Western States. The woodchuck, or ground-hog (A. mower), is a heavy, broad-headed, grizzled animal of the woods and fields, yellowish to Whitish gray in color, blackish on the back and crown and chestnut on the belly; with the feet and tail brownish black. It abounds throughout the whole country east of the dry plains, and flour ishes in spite of civilization, as the farmers' meadows and gardens supply it with an in creased supply of good food, and mankind thins out its worst enemies, such as wildcats, foxes, weasels, the larger serpents and birds of prey; none of these save the first is much to be feared by the full-grown woodchucks, hut may kill many of the young. As a result the animals have become unpleasantly numerous in some districts of the Eastern States, where their depredations upon gardens and certain planta tions, as of lettuce and celery, are often serious. Consult Lydekker, 'Royal Natural History,' (Vol. III 1895) ; Stone and Cram, 'American Animals' (1902).