412 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



August 20. Fired at a Marsh Hawk that was carrying a 

 Striped-gopher. This was dropped; it proved a male. In 

 its scrotum was i fully developed larva, which presently 

 crawled out and escaped. 



August 25. Out of 4 specimens collected to-day but i 

 had a larva. This host was a female. 



August 30. Out of 2 specimens to-day i had had a larva, 

 now escaped; the host was a female. 



September 4. Collected i female Striped-gopher. She 

 had 2 larvae still in her belly skin. 



September 11. Collected 2 males, the last of the season — 

 neither had any larvae. The season is doubtless over for 

 parasites as well as for host. 



This record shows that the cuterebra infests males and 

 females indiscriminately, but it generally, though not always, 

 attacks the lower abdominal region, and is frequently housed 

 in the scrotum of the male. But does it emasculate the host .? 

 It is usually credited with doing so. In my 1882 account of 

 this parasite I stated so, because the scrotum seemed quite 

 empty after the grub was removed. In view of the fact that 

 the testicles are reduced almost to nothing after the breeding 

 season, possibly withdrawn into the body, I do not at present 

 consider it proven that the cuterebra really emasculates the 

 Striped-gopher or its larger cousin. 



Among the parasites of the Striped-gopher we must 

 reckon the Mice, which pilfer from its stores. I have no good 

 observation on this, but in the case of the Yellow Ground- 

 squirrel I think that the robber Mouse is Microtus drummondi. 



LAST During August and early September the Striped-gophers 



EARTH maybe seen running into their holes with full loads of bedding 

 and provender. There is some reason for believing that the 

 wandering father returns in time to do his share of these prepa- 

 rations. Kennicott takes this view, and refers ^^ to the "winter 

 burrow, in which the pair hibernate and the female brings 



^-Quad. Ill, 1857, p. 76. 



