Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 15.djvu/589

Rh M A R M A R 561 to be divided into the three following subgencra : Spermophilus proper, containing thirteen or fourteen species, of small size, with rudimentary ear-conches, short stumpy tails, and comparatively large teeth ; Otospermophilus, two species, of squirrel-like build, with large and tufted ears, and long bushy tails ; and Ictidomys, with four species, of very slender, weasel-like form, with short ears, long but slender tails, and comparatively small teeth. The last two subgenera are confined to North America, while the range of the first is extremely similar to that of Ardomys, although certain species penetrate somewhat farther south in the New &quot;World, and none are found so far west in Europe. Professor Blasius gives the following details of the habits of the common European souslik (#. citillus, L.). It lives in dry treeless plains, especially on a sandy or clayey soil, and is never found either in forests or on swampy ground. It forms burrows, often 6 or 8 feet deep, in which food is stored up and the winter sleep takes place. Each burrow has but one entrance, which is closed up when winter approaches, a second hole, however, being previously formed from the sleeping-place to just below the surface of the ground. This second hole is opened the next year, and used as the ordinary entrance, so that the number of closed up holes round a burrow gives an indication of the length of time that it has been occupied. Sousliks ordinarily feed on roots, seeds, berries, &c., but occasionally also on animal food, preying readily on eggs, small birds, and mice, the remains of these latter being often found in their burrows. They bring forth in the spring from four to eight young ones, which, if taken early, may be easily tamed. They are often eaten by the peasants, the inhabitants of the Russian steppes considering their flesh an especial delicacy. (0. T. ) MARNE, a department of the north-east of France, made up from Champagne-Pouilleuse, Edmois, Perthois, Yallage, and La Brie-Charnpenoise, districts formerly be longing to Champagne. Its chief town, Chillons-sur- Marne, is 92 miles in a direct line east of Paris. Bounded on the W. by Seine-et-Marne and Aisne, on the N. by Ardennes, on the E. by Meuse, on the S. by Haute-Marne and Aube, it is situated between 48 31 and 49 26 N. lat., and 3 25 and 5 E. long. Its greatest length from north-east to south-west is 73 miles, and the area 3159 square miles. About one half of this consists of Cham pagne-Pouilleuse, a monotonous and barren plain covering a bed of chalk 1300 feet in thickness. On the west and on the east it is commanded by two ranges of hills. The highest point in the department (920 feet) is in the hill district of Rheims, which rises to the south-west of the town of the same name, between the Vesle and the Marne. The lowest level (164 feet), where the Aisne leaves the department, is not far distant. To the south of the .Marne the hills of Rheims are continued by the heights of La Brie (700 to 800 feet). All these belong geologically to the basin of Paris. They slope gently towards the west, but command the plain of Champagne-Pouilleuse by a steep descent on the east. On the further side of the plain are the heights of Argonne (8GO feet), formed of beds of the Lower Chalk, and covered by forests ; they unite the calcareous formations of Langres to the schists of Ardennes, and a continuation of them stretches southward into Perthois and the marshy Bocage. The department belongs entirely to the Seine basin, but of that river there are only 13 miles, in the south-west; it there receives the Aube, which has 10 miles within the department. The principal river is the Marne, which runs through the department for 105 miles in a great sweep concave to the south-west, passing Vitry-le-Francois, Chalons, Epernay, and Dormans. In its course through the department it falls from 410 to 213 feet. The principal tributaries are the Saulx (which receives the Ornain) on the right, and on the left the Blaise, which waters Vassy, the Somme Soude, and the Surmelin (with its tributary the Dhuis), whence Paris is supplied ; besides the. Petit Morin and the Grand Morin. Of the last three only the upper courses lie within the department. The Aisne enters the department at a point 12 miles from its source, and traverses it for 35 miles, watering Ste Menehould. Two of its affluents on the left, the Suippe and the Vesle, on which stands Rheims, have a longer course from south-east to north-west across the department. Marne has the climate of the region of the Seine ; the annual mean temperature is 50 Fahr., the rainfall about 24 inches. Of the total area about three-fourths consists of arable land, and a sixth is under forest, whilst a twenty-fifth is meadow land. Vineyards cover 63 7 square miles. The department is largely stocked with sheep (536,000, of which 133,000 are a mixed merino breed, whose wool is used in the manufacture of merinoes, flannels, and cashmeres). Cattle are estimated to number 95,260 ; horses, 53,000 ; pigs, 62,000 ; goats, 6000 ; and asses, 6000 ; these last; are used in the narrow pathways which intersect the vineyards. About 600,000 lt&amp;gt; of honey and 240,000 lt&amp;gt; of wax are produced. The vineyards, though not of great extent, are of high value from the quality of their products. The manufacture of the spark ling wines of Champagne is an important industry, of which Epernay, Rheims, and Chfilons are the chief centres. The yearly exportation is about 20,000,000 bottles, at the average value of half a crown a bottle. Cereals are grown in excess of the local consumption. Corn, hay, rye, barley, potatoes, and beetroot are the chief crops. Several communes supply the more valuable vege tables. In 1881 the produce of wine was more than 14J million gallons. The principal orchard fruits are the apple, plum, and cherry. Pine woods ai - e largely planted in Champagne-Pouilleuse. The department produces iron ore, phosphate of lime, quantities of turf, and excellent millstones and stone for building. The chief industry is that in wool, which has brought together, in the neighbourhood of Rheims, establishments for spinning, carding, dyeing, and weaving. The materials wrought are flannels, merinoes, tartans, shawls, rugs, and fancy articles. In 1879 the aggregate length of the various stuffs measured at Rheims was 12,198 miles. This business alone occupies 30,000 operatives in the department, and produces annually nearly 800,000 pieces, valued at 18,000,000. Hosiery in woollen employs 420 looms, and in cotton 1800. Marne contains blast-furnaces, iron, copper, and bell foundries, and manufactories of agricultural implements. Besides these there are tanyards, currying and leather-dressing establishments, and glassworks, which, with sugar-works and breweries, complete the list of the most important industries. Biscuits and gingerbread are a specialty of Rheims. The chief imports are wool, coal, and colonial wares ; the exports are wine, grain, live stock, stone, whiting, pit-props, and woollen stuffs. Transport is supplied by the river Marne and the canal connecting it with the Rhine and with the Aisne, and by 300 miles of railway. The population in 1881 was 421,027, an increase of 116^,371 since 1801. There are five arrondissements those of Chalons (the chef-lieu), Epernay, Rheims, Ste Menehonld, and Vitry-le-Francois. The department belongs partly to the archbishopric of Rheims and partly to the see of Chalons. Chalons is the headquarters of the 6th army corps ; to the north of the town is the great camp devoted to military exercises. MARNE, HAUTE-, a department of eastern France, made up for the most part of districts belonging to the former province of Champagne (Bassigny, Perthois, Vallage), with smaller portions of Lorraine and Burgundy, and some fragments of Franche-Comtd It lies between 47 35 and 48 40 N. lat., and between 4 40 and 5 55&quot; E. long., the capital, Chaumont, being 133 miles east-south-east from Paris in a direct line, and it is bounded on the N.E. by Meuse, on the E. by Vosges, on the S.E. by Haute- Sa6ne, on the S. and S.W. by Cote d Or, on the W. by Aube, and on the N.W. by Marne. The extreme lengtli from north-north-west to south-south-east is 81 miles, and the area 2402 square miles. Its greatest elevation (1693 feet) is in the plateau of Langres, between the sources of the Marne and those of the Aube; the watershed between the basin of the Rhone on the south and those of the Seine and Meuse on the north, which is formed by the plateau of Langres and the Monts Faucilles, has an average height of 1500 or 1600 feet. The country descends rapidly towards the south, but in very gentle slopes northwards. To the north is Bassigny (&quot; paybas,&quot; as distinguished from the highlands), a district of country characterized by monotonous flats of small fertility, and generally under wood. The lowest level of the department XV. 7i