292 Field Columbian Museum — Zoology, Vol. III. 



13 Specimens: 7 Ramshaw Meadows, 6 Big Cottonwood 

 Meadows, Mount Whitney. 



In the high Sierras, near Mount Whitney, this marmot was 

 abundant in the Boreal Zone from the upper edge of the Tran- 

 sition to timber-line. Their burrows are usually placed in loose 

 piles of boulders of such gigantic size that no bear or other 

 enemy can roll them aside or displace them. These retreats are 

 close to meadows where vegetation is abundant and where only 

 a short retreat is necessary to regain their burrows. The feeding 

 is usually done in the heat of the day, but the meadow is not 

 entered until a careful inspection of the vicinity has been made 

 from the highest rock pile near the burrow. The animals 

 usually live in colonies, and a few remain on guard while the 

 others feed in the adjacent meadows. When danger is dis- 

 covered a sharp whistle is given, which is answered by all the 

 other sentinels and the feeders in the meadow, as soon as they 

 discover the source of the danger move in a waddle as rapidly 

 as possible toward the rocks for safety. Out in the meadow, 

 accessory burrows are dug which are used as temporary retreats 

 if the danger is such that they have not time to reach the home 

 burrow. After the marmots have appeased their hunger they 

 usually retire to the pinnacle of some rock pile and bask in 

 the sun. 



In the Mount Whitney region they usually begin to hibernate 

 late in October, and appear again in the latter part of May, but 

 their hibernation is regulated largely by the altitude they 

 inhabit." 



FAM. MURID.F. 



MUS. 

 Mus musculus. 



Mus musculus Linn., Syst. Nat., x ed., 175S, 1, p. 62. Elliot, 



Syn. N. Am. Mamm., 1901, p. 108. 



2 Specimens: 1 Daggett, 1 Lone Pine. 



ONYCHOMYS. 

 Onychomys pulcher. 



Onychomys pulcher Elliot, Pub. Field Columb. Mus., in, 1903, 

 p. 243. Zoology. 



13 Specimens: 6 Morongo Pass, 1 Burns Canon, 1 Warren's 

 Well, 1 Daggett, 1 Lane's Mill, 2 Coso Mountains, 1 Lone Pine. 



"On soil composed of coarse sand derived from decomposed 

 granite seems to be the favorite situations for this genus. This 



