THE GROUND SQUIRRELS OF CALIFORNIA. 



627 



On May 14, 1918, near the mouth of Caliente Creek wash, Kern 

 County, in one corner of a 640-acre field planted to wheat, four large 

 bare spots were counted by the junior author in an area of not over ten 

 acres. These denuded areas were circular in shape aod averaged 75 

 yards in diameter. They were caused by the ground squirrels having 

 eaten and destroyed the ripening wheat and even the stalks so that 

 nothing but weeds remained. In a single one of these denuded areas 

 twenty-three occupied squirrel burrows were counted. In this same 

 field, within a six-foot circle the center of which was a lone squirrel 

 burrow, 113 heads of wheat were picked up (see fig. 14). These heads 



Fig. 14. These 113 heads of wheat were picked up within a six-foot circle, the center 

 of which was a "digger" squirrel burrow situated in the edge of a wheat field. They 

 were part of what had been gathered within three or four days, apparently by the one 

 squirrel. 



had all been cut and carried to the burrow within three or four days, 

 as they were not yet dry. This was evidently the work of a single 

 squirrel, since no other squirrel was seen to go near the burrow. These 

 113 heads of wheat probably constituted part of what was intended for 

 storing, and did not include that required for current consumption. 



In gathering food California Ground Squirrels slink along slowly 

 close to the ground, often half hidden in the grass. In gathering ripe 

 alfilaria only the clusters of seed cases are taken, with relatively little 

 of the stem. However, when the plants are young, the stems and leaves 

 are much relished by the squirrels. The usual method of feeding as 

 revealed by the binoculars, is for the squirrel to sit up on his haunches 

 within reach of the alfilaria heads, which are dexterously gathered into 

 little bunches by the front paws of the animal and then quickly snipped 

 off by the sharp ineisor teeth. During this last operation the head of 

 the rodent is often inclined to one side. In gathering bulky food ma- 

 terials such as the heads of foxtail the cheek-pouches are not always 

 used, the material being carried crosswise in the squirrel 's mouth directly 

 to the burrow. 



On the San Joaquin River near Mendota R. M. Hunt (MS) reports 

 seeing squirrels go out into the tules of the sloughs seemingly to eat the 



