286 BULLETIN 56, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



;t a congenial home, luit which arc surrounded by barren, inhospitable 



plains, that seem never to have been crossed by it. Other animals are 

 restricted by the same causes. The forested area lying south of the 

 Greal Colorado River, in the vicinity of Pine Spring, having an alti- 

 tude of 6,580 feet, affords a striking example of this sort. The vast 

 gorge of the Colorado arches around this tract on the north, and deep 

 canyons and broad desert plains shut it off from other forested 

 regions on all other sides. Therefore this region, although offering 

 every attraction in the matters of food, shelter, and climate for the 

 alpine mammals, is actually inhabited by none of them, except the 

 Holzner cottontail (Lepus floridanus holzneri). No such harriers 

 obstruct the passage of birds; and we find the usual alpine species in 

 this region, not excepting the Mexican turkey, whose limited powers 

 of flight might be expected to exclude 1 it. 



In October, 1884, I found this chipmunk abundant along the crest 

 of the Mogollon Mountains, from Bakers Butte. 35 miles east of Fort 

 Verde, nearly to Fort Apache. At that season they were actively 

 engaged in harvesting their winter supplies, in which employment 

 they ascended the tallest trees. At the lower altitudes they were 

 gathering acorns and storing them in large quantities in the ground 

 or iii hollow logs. The evergreens of higher altitudes also supplied 

 them with food. Throughout this region it is quite common for them 

 to emerge from beneath the deep snow in winter, and run about 

 during the warm part of the day. but during stormy or severely cold 

 periods they do not venture forth. 



In May and June, 1887, I found it at the Star Route wagon pass, 

 on the summit of the Mogollon Mountains, near Stonemans Lake, 

 and thence, at the highest points, to the San Francisco Mountain. 

 On Humphreys Peak it was found above 11,000 feet, inhabiting a 

 dense growth of conifers. It was abundant in the San Francisco 

 Forest, south of Flagstaff, where it probably reaches its lowest point 

 of residence, by following the continuity of the pine forest down a 

 gradual descent. Its evident fondness for acorns attracts it to the 

 oak groves, which are common along the lower, rocky ridges of this 

 elevated region. 



In July and August. 1887, I was encamped with a cavalry command 

 at Fern Spring, near Bakers Butte, in the Mogollon Mountains, about 

 40 miles east of Fort Verde. The locality was swampy ground having 

 somewhat rocky sides. Here squirrels were abundant on our arrival, 

 but by the time we had been in camp a fortnight there was an influx 

 of the smaller species from all the surrounding country, attracted by 

 the refuse from the horses' forage and the soldiers' rations. The Say 



