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or 4897: Common. AtevieWhek e in the timber. — Bisiea s Valley, Traverse County, June 
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- and July, 1887: Numerous in suitable places on both sides of the valley. The timber 
_ in the ravines and along the streams is mostly iron-wood, bass-wood, ash, and box- 
elder, the seeds of which furnish them an abundance of food: have tound but few 
‘adults, most of them being about three-fourths grown. Fort Sisseton, June, 1887: 
Numerous. Harwood, Cass County, July, 1887: Numerous in the woods. Grand 
Forks, July, 1887: Numerous in the woods. Pembina, July, 1887: Common in the 
woods. Bottineau (on western border of Turtle Mountain), August, 1887: Quite 
common, but not so abundant as 7. quadrivittatus. 
Rocky MOUNTAIN CHIPMUNK (Tamias quadrivittatus). 
Dakota.—Bottineau (on western border of Turtle Mountain), August, 1887: Com- 
mon in the brush on top of the Turtie Mountains. Heard one in the brush along 
the creek where it runs through the prairie. They seem to prefer brush to woods, 
and generally are found ina thick bunch of willows or hazel brush, and not more 
than 5 feet from the ground. Have not seen oneinatree. They feed principally 
on the seeds of choke-cherries, the meats of which is the only food I have found in 
their pouches. Their call note is a steady churp, churp, churp, like the cry of a 
Robin when in fear for its young, but with just the slightest husky tone. At first 
I was sure it was a Robin, but on finding out what it was, could detect a slight dif- 
ference. Thecry is repeated steadily, and about as fast as the chuck, chuck, chuck 
of Tamias striatus lysteri, but not so heavy. When they see or hear you, or be- 
come alarmed, the cry changes to a rapid quit, quit, quit, like a Ruffed Grouse 
when about to fiy, but finer and faster. When suddenly frightened they run with 
arapid twitter. They are much livelier than Tamias striatus, keeping in almost 
constant motion, especially their long tails, which are switching, jerking, and flirt- 
ing almost incessantly. When frightene: d they always run to the ground, but show 
a good deal of curiosity, and will often be back in the bush in half a minute if you 
keep quiet. Black Hills, October and November, 1887: Numerous on. the hiiis; 
more common high up than lowdown. They live among rocks or brush heaps, 
and feed largely on rose seeds, a kind of wild rye, snow-berry seeds, and the seeds 
of asmall aster; they also eat grass seeds and seeds of choke-cherries. Fort Buford, 
September, 1887: Said to occur. 
Montana.—Tilyou’s Ranch, Dawson County, September and October, 1887: Said 
pe common, but I have seen only one. Glendive, 1887: Abundant high up on the 
S. 
STRIPED GOPHER (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus). 
Minnesota.—Elk River, Sherburne County, 1887: Common on the prairies and 
openings; in some places numerous. Not found in timber land. They do much 
damage to crops, principally by digging up seed. They damage corn more than 
any other crop, sometimes digging oD. half of the seed in a field, both before and 
after it comes up. I do not know that they do any serious damage to crops except 
by taking the seed. Round Lake, Nobles County, May, 1887: Numerous. Heron 
Lake, Jackson County, May, 1887: Numerous all over the prairies, and especially 
along the edges of fields, where they dig up the grain. I do not think they do very 
serious damage, and I know by experience that they are easily caught. Complaints 
are made of the damage done “by them. Ortonville, Big Stone County, June, 1887: 
Numerous all over the } prairie, and only on the prairie. I think one to ever y acre of 
ground a small estimate of their numbers. As far as I have observed, they feed on 
grain, seeds, sorrel roots, strawberries, green leaves, grasshoppers, and other in- 
sects. The stomachs examined contained strawberries, red ants, grasshoppers, 
some other insects, and some green stuff. Caught the smallest adult of the species 
I have ever seen (total length 268™™, tail $4 and very slender). It is a female, and 
was nursing. The color is rather lighter than usual. Brown’s Valley, Traverse 
County, June and July, 1887: Numerous all over the prairie: seldom seen on the low 
ground. Saw the first young July 6; they were about half-grown. This Gopher 
feeds extensively on the seeds of Stipa spartea, which is abundant ever ywhere on 
the prairie. In skinning one of them I found a seed of Stipa spartea fast in the 
cheek pouch. The awn was broken off and the seed had tur “ned crosswise, so that 
the sharp point had penetrated the pouch, which was infiamed and swollen. They 
eat the tender juicy roots of Wild Larkspur, and seem to have dug and eaten it all 
now. I searched half an hour before findmg a specimen, though the top of plants 
that had been dug and eaten were all around. ihave found seeds of knot- -2Tass 
and puccoon in their pouches. The stomach sent will show many insects and some 
fruit. June 27 I first noticed that they were cutting wheat that was just heading 
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"REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGIST: “AND MAMMATOGIST, rs a a 
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