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Life-histories of Northern Animals 



IN MANI- 

 TOBA 



ENVIRON 

 MENT 



The present Is the only one inhabiting in Manitoba. It 

 abounds in the south-western section of the Province, that is, 

 all the prairie region except the low, wet part of the Red River 

 Valley. (Map 34.) 



The members of this group find congenial surroundings 

 on level prairies, low bottom-lands, high uplands, and among 

 sandy dunes. They abound on the plains and lowlands of 



Dakota, Minnesota, Wyo- 



Map 34 — Range of the Pocket-gopher in Manitoba. 



ming, and Montana, as well 

 as in all the aspen forests. 

 On the Yellowstone I found 

 them even on the tops of the 

 high mountains: for ex- 

 ample. Mount Sepulchre 

 (nearly 9,000 feet). All 

 through the Clearwater re- 

 gion on the Bitter-root 

 Mountains in Idaho they 

 are numerous, from the 

 highest levels to the lowest 

 flats, wherever there is soil 

 enough to dig in. On the 

 White River Plateau of the Colorado at least one species is 

 plentiful, from the uppermost peaks to the lowest slopes of 

 the quaking aspens. In California they exist in vast num- 

 bers, from sea level at San Francisco to above timber line 

 on the High Sierra, in all situations where there is soil enough 

 or even gravel enough to afford them cover. I even found 

 that an old dead crater, near Mount Tallac and almost as 

 high, was the scene of unnumbered eruptions of Pocket-gopher 

 origin. 



There are doubtless large arid or annually flooded areas 

 that they do not inhabit, but, it may be stated in general, that 

 they are to be seen in every part of the great West where there 

 is soil enough to burrow in, and rain enough to produce a 

 crop of annual plants. 



