Mammals 43 



half inches long, is called C. i. pallidus of Allen,* and is common over 

 the eastern part of the State, but also goes to a considerable 

 altitude in the mountains. The other, C. t. parvus of Allen, is 

 less than eight inches long, and has been found in Routt, Rio 

 Blanco, Moffat, Garfield, Saguache, and Costilla Counties. W. 

 L. Burnett discusses the economic status of the striped spermo- 

 phile as follows:** "From an economic standpoint, the striped 

 ground squirrel presents a problem that is somewhat difficult to 

 solve. In some sections of the State it is no doubt very injurious 

 to corn and newly planted seeds of various kinds, while, on the 

 other hand, in other sections it is beneficial by the destruction of 

 grasshoppers and other injurious insects, cutworms, etc. This is 

 especially true throughout the irrigated districts, where in former 

 years grasshoppers have been such a scourge. From our ob- 

 servations, the striped ground squirrel prefers grasshoppers to 

 any other food, and when these insects are abundant it will eat 

 them almost to the exclusion of all other foods." 



The other spermophiles are speckled or spotted, but not 

 striped. C. elegans, of Kennicott, has been found from about 

 6,000 to 9,000 feet, in Larimer, Grand, Routt, Rio Blanco, Eagle, 

 and Summit Counties, as recorded by Warren. The tail is less 

 than half the length of the body, and the back is speckled black 

 and yellowish. It is sometimes called the picket-pin gopher, 

 from its habit of sitting upright by its burrow, and thus resembling 

 a stake. 



The large spotted spermophile (C. spilosoma major of Mer- 

 riam), originally described from Albuquerque, New Mexico, ex- 

 tends into southeastern Colorado, being common about Pueblo. 

 Warren records a single specimen taken near Denver. The back 

 is cinnamon brown, with whitish spots having black posterior 

 edges; there is a conspicuous white ring around the eye. A re- 

 lated species, C. obsoletus of Kennicott, is grayer and duller, the 

 spotting not so extensive, confined to the posterior part of the 

 back. It was described from Nebraska, and in our State has 

 been taken at Wray, Sterling, Greeley, and, as I learn from Mr. 

 Warren, between Briggsdale and Ault. 



*The C. t. olivaceus of Allen, reported by Elliot as found by R. T. Young at Boulder, 

 was presumably ballidus. True olivaceus is found in South Dakota. . 



**The Striped Ground Squirrels of Colorado, Circular 1 4, Office of State Entomolog.st 

 (1914). 



