claws, and less bushy taiL It seems to be the American representative of
the A* (sp&rmophilus) concolor, or jevraska of Siberia. The Tawny Marmot has
been hitherto known only by Mr. Sabine’s account, in the Linnean Transactions, of
one obtained on Captain Franklin’s first expedition. That description, owing to
the imperfections of the specimen, is incorrect, in ascribing to the animal a
tapering, sharp nose,” instead of a thick one, fully as obtuse as that of either the
preceding or following species, and considerably more so than that of the Hudson’s
Bay squirrel. The figure, also, in the Linnean Transactions, is incorrect, in the
shape of the ears, and does not give so good an idea of. the form of the animal, as
Landseer’s excellent etching in this work.
D E S C R I P T IO N .
Dental formula ; incisors ■§, canines molars == 22.
The incisors are straw-coloured, rounded anteriorly, without the vestige of a groove, and
not so much compressed as the incisors of a squirrel, being fully as broad transversely as
they are from before backwards. The upper ones have even cutting edges, the under ones
rounded edges. In general form and structure, the upper grinders are similar to those of the
Arct. empetra, but they are rather more compressed, the duplicature of the plate of the
enamel from without inwards being more acute in proportion. The lower grinders have also
the same general form, but the points are more distinct, and die anterior pair of points on
each tooth rise in a more remarkable manner above the posterior pair.
Skull.-—The os-frontis is flat between the orbits as in the Quebec marmot; the nasal
process, however, does not rise, but forms with the nasal bones part of a flat, elliptical arch,
that extends from die occipital ridge nearly to the end of the nose, when it drops rather suddenly.
The margin of the orbits is a little raised. The distance between the orbits is only
about 4 lines or 4 | lines, being less than in the Arctomys Franklihii, and not above half the
space that exists between the orbits of the Sciurus Hudsonius. The capacity of the cavity
for containing the brain, is less in proportion than in the A . Franklinii. The zygomatic
process is broader than in the latter animal, and has a large, hollow surface* for the lodgment
of the muscles.
Body, a litde shorter, but thicker than that of the Hudson’s Bay squirrel. Head* roundish,
depressed ; nose obtuse ; the naked septum and margin of the nostrils is of a blackish-brown
colour. The end of the nose is covered with very short, grayish hairs ; the rest of the face-,
and dorsal aspect of the head, is coloured like the back, but has sometimes a darker yellowish-
brown tinge. Whiskers, black, shorter than the head. Cheek-pouches, capable of containing
a chestnut. Eyes, large. Ears, small, rounded, about a line high, situated above and
behind the auditory opening, thick, and clothed with short hairs. There is no part of the
auricle anterior to the auditory canal.
The colour of the back is yellowish-brown, verging towards gray, intermixed with black
hairs ; the fur is short and fine. On the sides the fur is a little longer, and has more of a
yellowish-gray hue, with few of the black hairs. The fur on the belly is longer but thinner
than that on the back, and its colour is between pale rufous and yellowish-gray. The cheeks,
throat, and inside of the thighs are very pale ash-gray, verging towards white. The buttocks
and under- surface of the tail have generally more or less of a rufous* tinge. The fur
throughout the body is shining pale ash-gray for the greater part of its length, the brown
tints being confined to the tips. The black hairs which are intermixed, are longer than the:
others, and are of one colour their whole length. The tail is flat or depressed, nearly linear*
and rounded at the end. It is less than one-fourth of the length of the body and head, and
is clothed with hairs longer than the fur of the body, and capable of a distichicous arrangement.
The upper surface of the tail is darker than the back, the central parts, when the
hairs are spread out, being a mixture of black and rusty brown, in nearly equal proportions,
but not banded or spotted, being only clouded. The extremities of the hairs, and, consequently,
the margin of the tail, have a rusty colour, becoming paler towards the tjps, which
are almost white. The hairs of the tail at its extremity are the longest, being an inch in
length, but the tail is by no means bushy!
• There are four toes and a minute' thumb on the fore-feet. • The toes are covered above
with a close smooth coat of hair. On the naked palms there are five callous tubercles, one
small one at the root of the inner toe, a similar one at the root of the outer toe, and one a
little, larger common to the two middle ones. There is. a pretty large one adjoining to the
thumb, and one nearly as large and of a conical form opposite to it. The first and third toe-
are of the same length, the middle one is the longest, and the outer one is the shortest and
furthest back. The thumb has a very short joint, and is armed with a small convex obtuse
claw. The claws of the toes are long and much compressed, their edges being in contact
beneath, nearly to the tips, where they separate to form a narrow groove. Hind-feet with
five toes. Sole naked, its heel alone being protected by hairs which grow on its sides and
curve over it. It has four smooth tubercles, one of which is common to the middle and fourth
toe, and the other three are proper to the inner, second, and outer toes. The toes are slender
and distinct, a slight duplicature only of naked skin appearing at their bases when they are
pulled apart. The three middle toes differ little in length, and arise together; the other two
are considerably smaller, and have their origin further back. The claws are shorter than
those of the fore-feet, though of similar shape, except that the edges are not in contact
beneath. All the claws are dark brownish-black.
DIMENSION'S
Of a recent full-grown specimen.
Length of body and head . . 9 8 Length from heel to tip of middle hind-claw
Inches. Line
i io
„ head . 2 4 1 of middle-hind-claw . . 0 3
,, body . . . 7 4 „ of the cranium, from the end of the
. ,, tail (vertebra) . . 2 0 nasal bone to the occipital .ridge , i lo i
,, tail, including fin“ . . 3 8 „ of the nasal bones . . - 0 8
„ middle fore-claw 0 6 Distance between the orbits in the scull 0 4.JThe
females are generally smaller than the males.