£50..] 6. A rctomys (S permophilus) P arryi. (Richardson.)
Parry's Marmot,.
Oteras Arctomys. .Cd-v i ib . Sub.gehm Speimophilus. J '.C tjyieb.
frround sguirrel. Hearne’s Journey, ?]). 141 and 386.
Quebec marmot. OForstoer, Phil. Trams., kdi. p. 37®,
■Arctomys alpina. Parry’s JSecmd Voy*, p. 61 ^ Narrative.
.Arctomys Parryi. Richardson, Parry's Second Voy., App., p. 316.
Seek-Seek. E souima-ux. Thce-tbiay (-Rock badger.) (Dhserewyans.
a Spermophixus (Parryi) uumculis bremssimis, corporesupergnseo nigrovecreberrim^ alio guttato ; suiter
helvolo, vultu badid, caud&' pedes posticos ea/iensos tertia parte superante planh-versus a,picemmigr&-margi e
.etsiimd albescenti subtus helvdld. . . . . - w««i. „.,„,„„,1
Parry’s Marmot, with cheek-pouches, very short-ears, body thickly spotted.abov.e wxth white on a gray 01^ lack ground,
pale rqst-coloured beneath,' face chestnut-coloured, the tail one-third part longer than the hind-feet,
stretched out flat,-black at the extremity, with a narrow white margin,-rus^colojired beneath.
P late x.
This spermophile inhabits the barren grounds skirting the sea-coast from
Churchill in Hudson’s Bay round by Melville Peninsula, and the whole northern
extremity of the continent!» Behring’s Straits, where specimens precisely similar
were procured by Captain Beechey. It abounds in the neighbourhood ƒ hort
Enterprise, near the southern verge of the barren grounds, in latitude 65°,and K
also plentiful on Cape Parry, One of the most northern parts of the continent It
| foWd generally in stony districts, hut seems to delight chiefly in sandy hillocks
amongst rocks, where burrows, inhabited by different individuals, may be often
observed crowded.together.1 One of the society is generally observed sitting meet
on thé'Summit óf 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 entrance until e
advance, of the enemy ebliges them, to retire to the bottom. When their retreat
is cut off, they become much terrified, and seeking Shelter m the first crevice that
offers, they not unfrequently succeed only in hiding the head and fore-part of the
body, whilst the projecting tail is, as is usual with them when under the influence
of terror, spread out flat on the rock. Their cry, in this season of distress, strongly
resembles the loud alarm of the Hudson’s Bay Squirrel, and is not very unlike the
sound of a Watchman’s rattle; The Esquimaux name of the animal se e d ed■ “> “
attempt to express this sound. According to Hearne, they are easily tamed, and
are very cleanly and playful in a domestic state. They never come abroad during