90 CALIFORNIA MAMMALS. 



in shallow holes scratched in the ground. A portion of these 

 seeds are not recovered and some germinate, so the Chickaree is 

 quite an important agent in nature's system of tree planting. 

 They usually bite off the stems of the large cones letting the 

 cones fall to the ground, coming down to gnaw their seeds loose 

 at the foot of the tree. 



Chickarees are very active, keeping mostly in the larger 

 trees, often running up and down their trunks, apparently for 

 sport. They are wan,-, yet inquisitive, and if one keeps quiet 

 thev will soon come out on a knot to scold the intruder. The 

 voice is varied, commonly a rapid chirring series of notes is 

 heard, sometimes a sharp yelp, or again a bird-like note. Most 

 of these sounds are emphasized by jerks and wags of the tail. 



Chickarees do not hibernate in California, though in stormy 

 weather they remain several days at a time in their nests in hol- 

 low trees, but in fine weather they run about on the snow as if 

 thev enjoyed the cold weather, as they doubtless do. They do 

 not like hot weather and are not found in the warm valleys or low 

 mountains. , 



The breeding season is late, as the young are born in June, 

 and July. The young are four or five in number. I have shot 

 females in August that were then suckling young. The sum- 

 mer moult takes place in June and the autumn moult in Septem- 

 ber. 



Sciunis douglassi moUipilosus Aud and Bach. (Soft — 

 haired. ) 



REDWOOD CHICKAREE. 



Similar to alboUmbatus ; color above darker : below ochrace- 

 ous buff or pale salmon shaded with dusky, the basal half of the 

 hairs being dusky and showing through the tips. Averaging 

 smaller. 



Type locality. Coast of northern California. 



The Redwood Chickaree is found principally in the redwood 

 forests, more particularly where the firs are mixed among the 



