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MAMMALIA.
[56.] 13. A b c t o m y s ( S p e r m o p h i l u s ) H o o d i i . (Sabine.)
The Leopard-Marmot.
Leopard ground-squirrel. Schoolcraft, Travels, p. 313 and Index. An. 1821.
Sciurus tridecem-lineatus. “ Mitchell, Med. Repository, An. 1821. Described from Mr. Schoolcraft’s specimen.”
Arctomys Hoodii. Sabine, Lin. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 590, An. 1822. Idem. Franklin's Joum., p. 663.
Striped and spotted ground squirrel. Say, Long's Exped.
Spermophile rayé.. F. Cuvier, Histoire Naturelle des Mamm. cum figura. I never saw this Marmot assume the
rounded form given to it in this figure.
Arctomys tridecem-lineata.* Harlan, Fauna, p. 164.
Hood's Marmot. Godman, vol. ii. p. 112.
A. Spermophilus {Hood\i\ dorso occupato lineisocto pattidè rufescenti-croceis cum lineis novem fuscis alternantibus
quarum quinque latioribus sérié guttarum crocearum notatis et quatuor {duobus nempe utrinque) inferioribus
interruptis, caitdâ gracili elongate.
The Leopard Marmot, with cheek-pouches, having its back striped with eight pale brownish-yellow lines, which alternate
with nine broader chocolate-brown ones, of which the two inferior ones on each side are interrupted,
and each of the other five is marked with à row of pale spots ; à long slender tail.
P la t e xiv .
This, the most beautiful of the marmots, inhabits, in considerable numbers, the
Open parts of the plains in the vicinity of Carlton-house, on the Saskatchewan.
Its burrows are interspersed among those of the A. Richardsonii, but may
be distinguished by their smaller entrances and more perpendicular direction.
Some of them will admit a stick to be thrust straight down to the depth of
four or five feet. The manners of the Leopard-marmot are similar to those
of A. Richardsonii, but it is*a more active animal, and of a bolder and more
irritable disposition. When it has been driven to take shelter in its burrow,
it may be heard expressing its anger in a shrill and harsh repetition of the
syllable seek-seek. This Marmot makes its appearance in spring, about the
same period with the A. Franlclinii, the depth of burrow evidently preventing the
warmth of the sun from reaching it so early as it does the A. Richardsonii. The
males very soon after coming abroad go in quest of their mates, and from their
boldness at that period, they are easily captured by the many beasts and birds of
prey which frequent the plains. The males fight when they meet, aud in their
contests their tails are often mutilated. I observed several individuals which had
been recently injured in this way, and it is rare to meet a male which has a tail
equalling those of the females in length. Mr. Sabine’s figure, and that in the
Histoire Naturelle des Mammifères, have both been made from mutilated specimens.