410 



MONOGRAPHS OP NORTH AMERICAN RODENTIA. 



llichardson traced it along the Rocky Mountains from latitude 52° to 60°, 

 and Mr. Nuttall m<3t 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 Watorton or Chief 

 Mountain Lake, where the animals were very numerous in the dobris 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 

 timber-line nearly np to the 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 cries 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 tiie 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. 

 Coucs informs me that they " may be readily taken in any simple trap", and 

 odds, that tliey " do not hibernate, at least southerly ". 



'Audubon and Bacbman's Quad. North Amer., vol, ii, p. 847. 



ii ' ' 



hf 



