32 RODENTS OF IOWA 



mentioned observers everywhere report that it pulls up and eats 

 newly planted corn and other seeds. This is especially true if the 

 Cultivated field adjoins a pasture or uncultivated area such as 

 is frequently inhabited by these animals. Often the outer five or 

 six rows of newly planted corn are pulled up and destroyed. 

 While the striped spermophile destroys insects of various kinds 

 it does not exercise any qualities of discrimination and beneficial 

 as well as harmful kinds are eaten. On the whole therefore it 

 cannot be said to be of value to the farmer. Vernon Bailey says : 

 (1. c, p, 42.) "Undoubtedly the good which the Striped Spermo- 

 philes do by destroying insects, and seeds of noxious weeds is of 

 no small importance but it is doubtful if it is sufficient to offset 

 the damage perpetrated by them in grain fields. In many lo<?al- 

 ities it is impossible to raise a full field of corn without first 

 killing the spermophiles. As soon as the corn is planted they 

 begin to dig up the seed but do most mischief after the com begins 

 to come up and until it is a week or ten days old, or until all the 

 nutriment is drawn from the grain. They dig down by the side of 

 the stalk and eat the swollen, starchy grain, of which they seem 

 very fond, leaving the stalks to die. As a single spermophile will 

 dig up many hills of com in a day and continue digging for 

 nearly two weeks, it is not difficult to see that serious damage 

 is done where they are numerous, averaging as they often do 

 four or five to an acre. Large fields of corn are entirely de- 

 stroyed by them and have to be planted over several times. A 

 great deal of wheat, oats, barley and rye is taken in the same 

 way making it necessary to sow an extra amount of seed. Even 

 this means is not effectual, and frequently fields of sowed grain 

 suffer materially from their attacks. As the small grains begin 

 to fill soon after blossoming the spermophiles cut down the stalks 

 and eat the ovules, and in order to find the best heads they cut 

 down a great deal more than they eat. As the grain becomes hard 

 they carry large stores of it into their burrows to be eaten at leis- 

 ure, probably when they wake from their winter's sleep. The 

 amount ot damage done depends upon the abundance of the ani- 

 mals and is often serious. If a field is small and isolated the sper- 

 mophiles sometimes collect and destroy almost the whole crop." 

 The above statement agrees in almost every particular with 

 reports of farmers in practically all parts of the state, so that 

 this animal is to be considered a menace to agriculture. 



