Franklin Ground-squirrel 



373 



All above yellowish brown, becoming dark slatey or bluish colour 

 gray on the head, and paler on the sides, everywhere finely 

 peppered with black, which on the rump faintly suggests bars. 

 Eyelids, lips, and throat, edge of ear and all below, dull yellow- 

 ish white. Tail, gray and peppered on both sides, bordered and 

 tipped with white; at the end is a sub-terminal band of black; 

 each hair is in about seven sections, which are alternately black 

 and white. 



Female similar. 



When seen in its native surroundings this Ground- 

 squirrel with its bushy tail looks much Uke an ordinary 

 Gray-squirrel, 



The species has not 

 split up into any well- 

 marked races. 



Life-history. 



It is generally distrib- 

 uted throughout the AUegha- 

 nian region of Manitoba, but 

 is rare on the east side of 

 Lakes Manitoba and Win- 

 nipegosis, and I found no 

 trace of it in the thick forests 



Map i8 — Distribution of Franklin Ground-squirrel in 

 Manitoba (provisional). 



of Riding and Duck Mountains. The map (No. i8) shows its 

 distribution in the province as I saw it. Doubtless this will be 

 greatly modified by further observations. For range see Map 19. 



It is essentially a ground animal, frequenting the edges of envi- 

 thick, dry undergrowth near woodlands or along hedges. It is ment 

 equally strange in dense forests and on open prairies. Its chief 

 region with us is the poplar country from Pembina to Pelly. 



Kennicott says : ^ "I have known this Spermophile to take 

 refuge in a hollow tree, crowding up the hole like a Gray 

 Rabbit. Mr. F. C. Sherman, of Chicago, informs me that 



' Quad. 111., 1857, p. 80. 



