GROUND SQUIERELS 169 



species extends upward on the Sierran crest to well above timber line, for 

 example, on Conness Mountain, Parsons Peak, and Parker Pass. On the 

 east slope this squirrel is found down through the Canadian Zone (Jeffrey 

 pines) even to the Farrin^on ranch near Williams Butte and to near 

 Mono Lake Post Office, close to the shore of Mono Lake. 



Meadows constitute the preferred habitat of this species, and by far the 

 greater percentage of the animals are to be found in the grassland. But 

 this environment is not absolutely essential to their welfare; for some of 

 them live in rather rocky places and some in areas which bear a moderate 

 stand of trees. In the latter two situations there is usually bunch grass in 

 the neighborhood of the places inhabited by the squirrels. The limited 

 patches of grass about many of the small glacial lakes often support small 

 populations of the Belding Ground Squirrel. 



This species is as strictly terrestrial as any ground squirrel of which 

 we know. We have never seen one climb a tree or even a bush. Once 

 one was seen on the top of a boulder about 3 feet in height. The Belding 

 Squirrel is less given to clambering over rocks than the 'copperhead' or 

 any of the chipmunks. Yet the present species, despite its habit of remain- 

 ing on the ground surface, spies out its enemies, real or supposed, at fairly 

 long distances and communicates at once with others of its kind in a way 

 that puts all the individuals in the neighborhood on their guard. 



When the traveler approaches a meadow and is still a hundred yards 

 or more from the nearest Belding Squirrel, his ear is assailed by the alarm 

 call of the animal, a series of shrill piping whistles, loud enough to be 

 heard by any living creature within a quarter-mile radius. Usually there 

 are 5 to 8 (rarely even 12) notes in rapid sequence. Other squirrels take 

 up and repeat this calling so that on some occasions the rocky walls enclos- 

 ing a meadow resound with their notes. This warning call is responded to 

 according to the circumstances wherein the various individuals find them- 

 selves when the call is heard. Those out in the meadows usually at once run 

 toward their burrows ; others closer by, within a few yards of their homes, 

 rise straight up on their haunches, with forelimbs pressed against the 

 body. When an individual squirrel has assumed this position, it, too, 

 utters the shrill whistled call. If its curiosity remains unsatisfied, as when 

 its view of the approaching person is imperfect, the squirrel rises still 

 farther until it is standing bolt upright on the soles of its hind feet. The 

 call given then is apt to be of an even more penetrating quality than at 

 first. If the person continues to approach, the squirrel drops to all fours 

 and runs to the entrance of its burrow where sometimes it again assumes 

 the 'picket-pin' position; but it more often remains hunched up on all 

 fours, with its hind feet well under its body, ready to dart down the hole 

 at an instant's further warning. Even when in the upright position at 



