jyu] Taylor: Mammals of the 1909 Nevada Expedition. 221 



seeing of a half-dozen on a rocky ridge near Big Creek Ranch on 

 June 12. They seem to be very partial to rocks, although they 

 were found in many situations on the hillsides. Presumably all 

 their burrows were located in the large piles of granite boulders 

 which were found in many places. 



A couple were seen in Big Creek Caiion below the "Dugout 

 Camp" (4500 feet), one on the ground, the other in a small bush 

 by the road. This was some distance from any rocks, and rather 

 exceptional in our experience. 



The name trepidus was suggested by their shy nature. At 

 the least alarm they run pell-mell to the nearest shelter, and 

 refuse to apj^ear again. In behavior these animals remind one 

 somewhat of ground squirrels {('itellus beecJieyi). The juvenals 

 are not nearly so diffident as the adults. They frolic about on the 

 rocks, first running up to a high point to view the intruder, then 

 dashing down the other side, only to reappear in a few moments. 

 My attention was directed to a pair of the animals on a rocky 

 hillside by their curious little "chips." One was chasing another 

 and suddenly disappeared. The other ran around the rocks for 

 some time, finally mounting a boulder and assuming a Citellus- 

 like attitude. It remained sitting for some moments bolt upright 

 with tail in air. Their actions are exactly those one might expect 

 to observe in a chipnmnk of their size. That they would be more 

 shy, however, than the smaller species might be expected ; and 

 this is the case. As with birds, difficulty of approach is as a rule 

 in direct ratio to the size of the mammal (.see Coues, 1903, p. 15). 



]\Ir. ]\Iatthew Price, the miner living at the "Dugout Camp" 

 averred that this animal was a great pest to his garden. In fact, 

 his two cats lived almost entirely on these rodents. 



One squirrel taken had its cheek-pouches filled ^\■ith green 

 seeds about a (juarter of an inch long. One of the animals was 

 seen in a gooseberry bush. 



Some data as to checks on this species were gathered. It is 

 very probable that coyotes and badgers consume considerable 

 numbers, as both are apparently very common in the mountains 

 in the summer. The larger hawks come in for their share. On 

 July 31 the writer was hunting in a broad pass east of Duffer 

 Peak. A large western redtail (Biiteo horealis eedunis) swooped 



