WOODCHUCK, or GROUND-H00, as American marmot (Arctmnyi or Alamota ononax), 18 to 24 inches long, grizzled above and chestnut red below, the feet and tail black ish. it is found from Hudson Bay to South Carolina, and west to the neighborhood of the Rocky Mountains, several distinct sub-species and varieties appearing in this wide range. It digs deep holes in the fields, on sides of hills, or under rucks in the woods, in a slant ing direction, at first upward to keep out the water, with several compartments, and usually with more than one entrance. It passes the winter in the burrow, in a dormant state. The digging is effected by the powerful fore feet. assisted by the teeth, the dirt being thrown backward under the belly and then kicked out by the widespreading hind feet. The food consists of %arum., plants, fruits and vege tables; they are especially food of red clover, often doing great mischief to this crop and to gardens; another favorite food is celery.
Woodchucks feed chiefly during the early morning and late afternoon and spend most of the remaining time lying in the sun or sleeping in the nests at the bottom of their burrows. They become extremely fat and re
tire to hibernate on the first intimation of ap proaching winter and only appear after the snow is gone in the spring. A large brood of young is born in the spring or early summer and when a few months old they are forced to leave the burrow and to shift for themselves. The woodchuck is generally a bold and un suspecting creature, but has alert senses and where much persecuted may become vigilant. When driven to bay it may fight with consider able courage and effectiveness. Its chief natural enemies are foxes and skunks, but the animal remains generally abundant in both cultivated regions and woodlands in the New England and Middle States. Consult Ingersoll, Ernest, 4 Wild Neighbors' (New York 1898); Sewn, E. T., 'Life Histories of Northern Animals' (New York 1909); Stone and Cram, 'Ameri can Animals' (new ed., ib. 1914).