410 .< MONOGRAPHS OF NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. 
Richardson traced it along the Rocky Mountains from latitude 52° to 60°, 
and Mr. Nuttall met with it as far south in the Rocky Mountains as latitude 
42°* Dr. Coues met with it in the Rocky Mountains, at latitude 49° N., at 
an elevation of only about 4,500 feet, at the level of Waterton or Chief 
' Mountain Lake, where the animals were very numerous in the débris at the 
foot of cliffs. : 
Their habits seem everywhere much the same. The animals are every- 
where found in communities, living among the loose rocks from a little below 
limber-line nearly up tothe snow-line. They appear to rarely wander many 
yards from their homes; are timid, yet easily become familiar. Though 
retreating to their holes when first alarmed, they soon come cautiously out, one 
after another, till one may hear their sharp little tries in every direction. Their 
color so nearly resembles that of the rocks they live among that they are not, 
easily seen, and their cry is of such a character as to easily mislead one in 
respect to the point from which it proceeds, seeming to be far away when 
really only a few feet distant. They sit erect like little Marmots, and in no 
way resemble the Hares in habits. They carry into fissures of the rocks 
large quantities of grass, which they lay up for winter consumption. Dr. 
Coues informs me that they ‘‘ may be readily taken in any simple trap ”, and 
adds, that they ‘‘ do not hibernate, at least southerly ”. 
*Audubon and Bachman’s Quad. North Amer., vol. ii, p. 247. 
