ANTELOPE GROUND SQUIRREL 



Los Baiios Antelope Chipmunk. — Ammospermophilus nelsoni 



am plus Taylor. 

 Larger and paler than typical nelsoni and with stripes less 

 distinct. In summer color of upperparts light buff, almost 

 whitish on sides of face and nape of neck. Total length, 

 9.7 inches; tail vertebrae, 3 inches; hind foot, 1.6 inches! 

 Found in the San Joaquin Valley, vicinity of Los Bahos, 

 Merced County, California. 

 Harris Ground Squirrel; Gray-tailed Antelope Squirrel.^ — 



Ammospermophilus harrisii harrisii (Audubon and 



Bachman). 

 Resembling leucurus in general appearance but more 

 strongly colored, tail longer and not white below. Upper- 

 parts mixed blackish and vinaceous cinnamon, finely 

 speckled with whitish to give pepper-and-salt appearance; 

 grayest on neck and shoulders; lower sides and outer sides 

 of limbs grizzled cinnamon; tail above, blackish, the hairs 

 broadly tipped with whitish, below, gray (mixed black and 

 white); underparts whitish. Total length, 9.2 inches; tail 

 vertebrae, 3.2 inches; hind foot, 1.6 inches. Found in the 

 Sonoran Zone of Arizona and New Mexico and north to 

 southern Utah and Nevada. 

 Rock Squirrel. — Ammospermophilus harrisii saxicola (Meams), 

 Paler than typical harrisii and with a longer tail ; light mark- 

 ings everywhere more extensive. Total length, 9.8 inches; 

 tail vertebras, 3.8 inches; hind foot, 1.6 inches. Found in 

 the bare granite mountain ranges of the Lower Sonoran 

 Zone of Arizona, south into Mexico. 



The members of the genus Ammospermophilus are found on 

 dry, arid plains, on deserts, or on the lower slopes of mountain 

 ranges. They are true Ground Squirrels and Hve among the 

 bushes or in the rocks. They take their name of Antelope 

 Ground Squirrels from their habit of carrying the tail curled 

 up over the back, when the white underside gives the animal 

 the appearance of a white rump patch like that of the Prong- 

 horn Antelope. By this habit the Antelope Ground Squirrels 

 may be easily recognized. They are diurnal in habit and are 

 active throughout the day. Over most of their range they do 

 not hibernate, but where they encounter a long period of snow 

 they are dormant for several months. 



The Antelope Ground Squirrel has a roving disposition and 

 wanders extensively in the course of a day's search for food. 

 Seeds are carried in the internal cheek-pockets and stored in 

 underground burrows. This Squirrel has a chirping call-note, 

 a sharp whistle, and a fine trilling call, to suit the various needs 

 217 



