GROUND SQUIEEELS 175 



studied at close range. The gait when running is heavy, with little or 

 none of the bounding or skipping movements of chipmunks. On rare 

 occasions a "callo" will assume the upright picket-pin posture so character- 

 istic of the Belding Ground Squirrel. 



The "callo," quite in contrast with the other local squirrels, is seldom 

 heard to utter notes of any sort. On one occasion, near Lake Tenaya, one 

 of these animals was heard to give a high-pitched squeak, repeated three 

 times. In mating chases, when a male pursues a female, low grunting and 

 squeaking notes are uttered ; but these are inaudible beyond a few feet. 



The Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel spends the winter months, when 

 snow covers the high mountains, in hibernation. Exact data on time of 

 emergence and disappearance are lacking. When we reached Peregoy 

 Meadow on May 20, 1919, the animals were already abroad. At Aspen 

 Valley they were out as late as October 18 (1915). Probably they stay 

 out until the first big storm of the season, which snows them in for the 

 winter. 



The summer season is occupied by these squirrels in rearing their broods 

 and in obtaining forage for themselves, not only for their daily needs, 

 but also enough to permit of their acquiring the fat necessary for warmth 

 and sustenance during the long winter sleep. Of one animal collected at 

 Ten Lakes on October 9, 1915, the collector notes that ''at least a handful 

 of fat" was removed from the inside of the skin. Not all the individuals, 

 however, acquire fat in equal amounts. Thus, of two males taken on 

 October 3 and 9, respectively, one weighed about 5 ounces (138.5 grams), 

 the other 7% ounces (218 grams). And of two females taken at Aspen 

 Valley on October 16, 1915, the respective weights were 5^/^ ounces (156.5 

 grams) and 8^/2 ounces (239 grams). 



Once a "callo" was seen to take a dust bath. At Crane Flat, on 

 June 16, 1915, one of our party was resting in a sandy place where large 

 boulders were scattered about. At his approach all the squirrels had 

 disappeared ; but after a time one — a Golden-mantled — came forth, frisked 

 about, and repeatedly "dived through" the little heaps of sand; but it did 

 not roll in the sand. Ground squirrels, generally, are afflicted with fleas, 

 and this and other species have been seen to take this method of ridding 

 themselves of these parasites. 



About camping and lunching places where summer tourists drop food 

 scraps, copperheads often take advantage of the opportunities afforded to 

 make the getting of food an easy matter. On the summit of Clouds Rest, 

 on August 25, 1915, a "callo" was seen which would come to within three 

 feet or less of a person and take tidbits thrown on the ground. When 

 one of our party offered more material than the squirrel could consume 

 at the moment, it carried the food (in this case dried fruit) in its mouth 



