{52.] 8. Arctomys (Spermophilus) Richardsonii. (Sabine.)
The Tawny Marmot.
Arctomys Richardsonii. Sabine, Linn. Trans., voL xiii. p. 589. t. 28. Idem, Franklin's Journ., p. 662. }
Gr if f it h , An. Kingd.,vo\. v. p. 246. No. 639. Br it ish Museum, Spec. 110.
Tawny American Marmot. Godman, Nat. Hist., vol. ii. p. 111.
A . Spermophilus (Richardsonii) super cervinus pilis nigris interspersis suiter pallidior, cauda brevi corpore
concolori margine pallido, auriculis brevissitnis.
Tawny Marmot, with cheek-pouches ; hack yellowish-gray, interspersed with black hairs; belly pale grayish-orange;
a short tail coloured like the body with a pale margin; very short ears.
P late x i .
This animal inhabits the grassy plains that lie between the north and south
branches of the Saskatchewan River, living in deep burrows, Formed in the sandy
soil. It is very common in the neighbourhood of Carlton-house, its burrows being
scattered at short distances over the whole plain. It can scarcely be said to live in
villages, though there are sometimes three or four of its burrows on a sandy hummock,
or other favourable spot. The burrows are proportionable to the size of the
animal, generally fork or branch off near the surface, and descend obliquely downwards
to a considerable depth ; some few of them have more than one entrance.
The earth scraped out in forming them is thrown up in a small mound at the mouth
of the hole, and on it the animal seats itself on its hind-legs, to overlook the short
grass, and reconnoitre before it ventures to make an excursion. In the spring,
there are seldom more than two, and most frequently only one individual seen at
a time at the mouth of a hole; and although! have captured many of them at that
season, by pouring water into their burrows, and compelling them to come out, I
have never obtained more than one from the same hole, unless when a stranger
has been chased into a burrow already occupied by another. There are many
little, well-worn pathways diverging from each burrow, and some of these roads
are observed, in the spring, to lead directly to the neighbouring holes, being most
probably formed by the males going in quest of a mate. The males tight when
they meet on these excursions, and it not unfrequently happens that the one which
is worsted loses a part of its tail as he endeavours to escape. They place no
sentinels, and there appears to be no concert between the tawny marmots
residing in the neighbourhood, every individual looking out for himself. They
Published, by .John, Murray. Ja n u a ry 28-Z9.