GROUND SQUIERELS 173 



snow — by hibernating. The exact duration of the hibernation period is 

 not known. At the Farrington ranch, near Williams Butte, one of these 

 squirrels was obtained on April 29, 1916. In many localities individuals 

 are out before all the snow has disappeared, and in places they have been 

 seen to run over snow banks. At the end of September many of the animals 

 were still abroad in Tioga Pass and on Tuolumne Meadows, even after a 

 slight snowfall. Our latest record is of an individual out at Ten Lakes 

 on October 6, 1915. 



The only direct evidence of enemies is a note that at Tuolumne Meadows 

 a Mountain Weasel was seen killing one of these squirrels. The weasel had 

 the squirrel by the back of the neck. The larger high-mountain carnivores 

 probably also levy toll on the Belding Ground Squirrel whenever oppor- 

 tunity offers. 



Stephens Soft-haired Ground Squirrel 

 Citellus mollis Stephens! (Merriam) 



Field characters. — Size near that of House Eat ; ears small ; tail short ; pelage silky 

 textured. Head and body GY^ inches (162 mm.), tail 2 inches (50 mm.), hind foot IJ4 

 inches (32 mm.), ear % inch (4 mm.) [measurements from extralimital specimens]. 

 General coloration buffy gray above, silvery white on under surface; feet dull white; 

 tail drab on upper surface, buflfy below. Worlcings: Burrows in ground beneath bushes. 



Occurrence. — Eesident at extreme southeastern corner of Yosemite section, near Mono 

 Mills. Lives on sandy ground beneath sagebrush. 



The Stephens Soft-haired Ground Squirrel is a Great Basin type of 

 rodent which reaches the extreme eastern margin of our Yosemite section 

 in the dry sagebrush-covered, sandy area southeast of Mono Lake. Its 

 presence there is established by two specimens which were captured on 

 June 10 and 11, 1916. These two individuals are not quite full grown. 

 Others were present in the same place, but not obtained. The field notes 

 state that the squirrels slid along on the ground like big lizards and like 

 them stopped and scrutinized the observer from the shelter of the first 

 bush that they reached. 



Sierra Nevada Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel 

 Callospermophilus chrysodeirus chrysodeirus (Merriam) 



Field characters. — Size of body about two-thirds that of House Eat; tail about half 

 leng-th of head and body. Head and body 5% to 7% inches (147-195 mm.), tail 2% 

 to 4 inches (67-102 mm.), hind foot 11/2 to 1% inches (38-43 mm.), ear from crown 

 % to % inch (11-20 mm.); weight 4% to 81/2 ounces (135-239 grams). Whole head 

 and neck yellowish or coppery red (pi. 2) ; on each side of back a broad white stripe 

 bordered above and below by broad black stripes; middle of back grizzled brown; sides 

 and under surface of body pale gray or whitish; tail black centrally, buffy at margin, 

 cinnamon on under surface. Worlings: Holes in ground 2 to 2I/2 inches in diameter, 

 usually close to rocks or logs. 



