218 l^jiivcrsifi/ of Califoniia riih!icaii<nis in Zoologij. [Vol.7 



Habits. — Young were taken on ^lay 18, IMay 20, May 26, and 

 June 7. ]\Iany others were seen in various stages of growth. 

 Probably all the young are born about the first of May. 



The Piute ground squirrels live in colonies. Rather exten- 

 sive towns were found in some instances. On June 1 one such 

 was found with many paths leading from hole to hole. The 

 burrows are quite long. One was dug out at Amos for a dis- 

 tance of thirty feet (see figure 1). A nest was found in a large 

 spherical cavity, so arranged that water could not have gotten 

 into it. Fine straws made up the bulk of it, though white cotton 

 twine had been very largely used to bind the straws loosely 

 together. A couple of rags, a bit of rabbit-fur, some wool, and a 

 down feather were also incorporated into the nest. Apparently 

 the burrows intercommunicate. 



s>e:ct/on 



TOP VIE\X/ 



Fig. 1. Section and plan (diagrammatic) of bnrrow of Citellus mollis; 

 nest cavity on left. 



We were impressed with the fact that Citellus mollis re- 

 sembles Citellus tereticaudus of the Colorado Desert in general 

 habits and appearance. A very noticeable call-note, resembling 

 "chea!" is given from time to time. The young, as might be 

 expected, are much bolder than the adults. They exhibit an 

 instinctive immobility resembling somewhat the so-called death- 

 feigning instinct. A couple of juvenals were seen in the low 

 grass of the desert adjoining the Quiini River. One ran and 

 escaped down a hole. The other made as if to do so, but sud- 



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