September, 1!)21. 



The Canadian Field-X \ti li ae.ist. 



105 



aspen {PopnluH tremuloides). The coni- 

 fers ran^e back only a comparatively 

 short distance froifl*the lakes, forming an 

 encircling collar about them, then being 

 replaced entirely by the usual growth of 

 aspen. The soil in places is very sandy, 

 notably a streak between and to one side 

 of the lakes, on which subsist small ex- 

 amples of jack pine (Pinus hanksiana), 

 developing further along into quite ex- 

 tensive groves. The general effect of the 

 landscape reminds one of the stunted for- 

 ests in the region of Lake Superior, par- 

 ticularly in the Hudsonian zone. The an- 

 alogy is further heightened by deep 

 spongy ground-moss that covers the low 

 areas in places near the lakes, the logs and 

 trunks covered with dull lichens, and the 

 "old man's beard" that waves from the 

 sepulchral spruces. 



Richardson Ground Sqhirrel. 



Citellus nchardsonii {Sahine). 



The Richardson ground squirrel by far 

 exceeds in number any other mammal of 

 the region, with one exception, and that 

 doubtful — microtus drummondii. Col- 

 onies are nowhere extensive, due no doubt 

 to the proximity of its northern limit 

 (none were observed north of the Saskat- 

 chewan river) ; but individuals are scat- 

 tered everywhere in hundreds. The most 

 flourishing colonies are invariably found 

 on high rolling lands usually on the 

 slopes, and preferably in gravelly clay, 

 but burrows are evident in all but the 

 wettest locations. In places the com- 

 parative smoothness of the prairie is 

 broken by innumerable dark earth heaps, 

 throaty burrow entrances, and sunken 

 runs. These last are used regularly as 

 highways from one community to another, 

 and as a rule are traceable by the eye from 

 a distance, especially if viewed from a 

 slight elevation. Like life, as a maze of 

 endless continuity with its thousand cur- 

 rents crossing and counter-crossing and 

 crossing again, these little prairie trails 

 lead hither and thither, a perfect laby- 

 rinth, to both puzzle and entertain. In 

 long grass or grain this system becomes, 

 of course, much less evident, if not entirely 

 hidden. 



My first day at Islay, August 27, was 

 principally taken up with this animal, 

 both because of its abundance and the im- 



mediate access to its study. If approached 

 slowly, ground squirrels or gophers re- 

 main head and shoulders exposed until 

 your nearness sends them earthward at a 

 vital moment with a flick of the tail and a 

 husky whistle. A few are content to 

 court human company at short range, 

 feeding meanwhile within easy access of 

 their burrows, but others again disappear 

 at the first alarm. When sitting erect or 

 crouched at burrow-mouth, somewhat tim- 

 orous or moved by mildly-excited curios- 

 ity, a striking characteristic is the upward 

 flick of the tail in time to a husky chirp. 

 From this it has doubtless derived the 

 local appellation of flicker-tail. An in- 

 teresting experience when a whole colony 

 has been frightened underground is to 

 lie motionless on the prairie, and watch 

 them reappear one by one and resume 

 their several inclinations, which they 

 readily do in a few minutes. Apparently 

 already forgetful of their recent alarm, 

 they exchange in low drowsy calls their 

 expression of content in the mellow sun- 

 shine of the morning. 



During September, in certain localities, 

 hundreds of small drillings in Jlie soil 

 indicate the ground squirrels' activity in 

 garnering a species of grass root or bulb. 

 They also collect, so I was informed, the 

 red berry of the wild rose and a low shrub 

 blueberry resembling the huckleberry 

 which grows sparsely on the prairie. In 

 addition to these, they take a heavy an- 

 nual toll from the grain-fields. 



At Islay the gophers' nearest mammal 

 neighbors are the two species of vole, the 

 long-tailed weasel, and the badger. Habit- 

 ually the two last prey upon the three 

 first. On numerous occasions I have seen 

 groups of badger borings in ground squir- 

 rel colonies with the evident purpose of 

 feasting on those animals, but it is usually 

 hard to tell with what success the badger 

 meets. Some holes are shallow, wiiile 

 others are several feet in depth ; the for- 

 mer I presume are merely prospect shafts. 

 As the badger digs anywhere in the wild- 

 est abandon, without reserve, art or dis- 

 crimination, it is often difficult and even 

 impossible to decide which are dens and 

 which prospects. Even after the snowfall 

 of Oct. 8, these prospect shafts continued 

 for a time as numerous and fresh as ever, 



