1936] 



MAMMALS OF OREGON 



127 



of the cones are buried beyond the shadows of the tree, and often 

 an accident leaves these cones and seeds to grow during the next 

 summer. 



EUTAMIAS TOWNSENDII TOWSENDII (BAOHMAN) 

 TOWNSEND'S CHIPMUNK; QUIS-QUIS of the Chinook (J. K. T.) 



Tamias toivnsendii Bachman, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 8: 68, 1839. 

 Tamias tovmsenito littoralis Elliot, Field Columbian Mus. Pub. Zool. 3: 153, 

 1903, from Marshfleld, Oreg. 



Type. C ollected along 

 Lower Columbia River (prob- 

 ably lower mouth of Willam- 

 ette) about 25 miles below 

 Portland, Oreg., by J. K. 

 Townsend in 1834. 



General characters. Large 

 for a chipmunk ; tail long and 

 bushy; ears large; fur long 

 and lax ; colors dull and dark. 

 Summer pelage, back with 3 

 black and 2 outer brown 

 stripes, and 4 yellowish 

 stripes between ; sides of head 

 with 2 yellowish and 3 brown 

 stripes; sides and most of 

 upper parts and feet snuff 

 brown; tail bright rusty 

 brown below, black above and 

 on tip and margins, above 

 frosted with buffy tipped 



FIGURE 21. Range of five chipmunks in Oregon : 1, 

 Eutamias townsendii townsendii; 2, E. t. ochro- 

 genys; 3, E. t. cooperi; 4, E. t. siskiyou; 5, E. t. 

 senex. Type localities circled. 



hairs; a patch back of each, ear, and throat and belly, white. Winter pelage 

 slightly darker above with stronger markings of black and white. Young simi- 

 lar to adults in summer. 



Measurements. Average of several adults : Total length, 258 mm ; tail, 115 ; 

 foot, 38; ear (dry), 16. 



Distribution and habitat. These large dark chipmunks occupy the 

 coast region west of the Cascade Mountains from southern British 

 Columbia south to Myrtle Point, Oreg., including the Coast Ranges 

 and the Willamette and lower TJmpqua River Valleys, where they 

 occupy the forests and dense thickets (fig. 21). 



General habits. Chipmunks of this group have strangely marked 

 habits, which go well with their large size, long plumy tails, and 

 soft fur. They are quiet and gentle in actions, keeping much in the 

 shadows and under the bushes out of sight. Often they would pass 

 unnoticed but for their birdlike voices, musically whistled chippers 

 of alarm, or the soft far-away chuck, chuck, chuck of contentment 

 given from a branch, stump, or log, as the plumy tail is slowly 

 waved from side to side. Though the nervous scurry character- 

 istic of the smaller species is lacking, they are quick when escape 

 is necessary expert climbers and skillful at hiding in trees, bushes, 

 hollow logs, or holes in the ground. 



Their real homes are in underground burrows, where warm nests 

 and ample stores of nuts and seeds afford all the comforts of chip- 

 munk life. In the fruitful country they inhabit there is no occasion 

 for strenuous exertion. Like most of the squirrel family they are 

 daylight workers, beginning activities with the first clear dawn, 

 and retiring to their nests for the night with the twilight shadows. 



