1911] Taylor: Mammals of the 1909 Nevada Expedition. 219 



denly stopped stock still and lay down flat on the ground, re- 

 maining perfectly quiet. I even walked up and touched the 

 little animal with my foot, but it would not move. A similar 

 case was observed on another occasion. The pelage of these 

 juvenals harmonizes in color quite closely with the sandy soil, 

 so that this habit, in conjunction with the coloration, may well 

 be a decided advantage to the species. As a rule, soil which 

 does not support much vegetation seems to be preferred. We 

 could not decide, however, that the looser ground was selected ; 

 in fact, it seemed the other way about. 



Their food is vegetable matter of various sorts. Bunch grass 

 had been gnawed down to the roots in one place near a colony. 

 The squirrels occasionally climb into the bushes. 



At Big Creek Ranch a family was found living in an aban- 

 doned badger-hole. A very large colony was discovered near 

 the river at Quinn River Crossing, but others were found several 

 miles from the nearest water. Probably an ample supply of 

 moisture is obtained from their vegetable food. 



Ammospermophilus leucurus leucurus (C. H. ^lerriam). 

 Antelope Ground Squirrel. 



Status. — A careful comparison of our series with topotypes 

 of leiicurus from San Gorgonio Pass (exact localities, Cabazon, 

 Snow Creek, Whitewater Station, and Palm Springs) leads to the 

 conclusion that the animals are typical of that species. The 

 variation in size and color is no more than is found in a large 

 series of leiicurus from one locality. 



Distribution. — Antelope ground squirrels were not common 

 anywhere. Extensive trapping revealed their presence at Quinn 

 River Crossing, and individuals were observed at the Big Creek, 

 Alder Creek, and Leonard Creek ranches. More specimens were 

 secured on the flat in Virgin Valley than elsewhere. Alder Creek 

 was the highest point at which the species was noted, a male 

 adult (no. 8218) and a male juvenal (no. 8219) being secured 

 there on a ledge, altitude 5200 feet. In the original description 

 of this species (C. H. Merriam, 1889, p. 20) no mention is made 

 of its geographic range. Mearns (1907, p. 299) gives it as the 

 Sonoran Zone, east of the Coast Range, on the IVIexican line. 



