678 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



Fig. 24. Map showing California distribution of the golden-mantled and antelope 

 groups of ground squirrels. The spots represent localities from which actual specimens 

 have been examined. 



the animals are to be seen scurrying across open spaces to their burrows, 

 just in front of the mouths of which they almost invariably stop a 

 moment before plunging out of sight, displaying then to full advantage 

 their color pattern. If the observer traverses their domain quietly, he 

 may suddenly discover individual squirrels intensely observing him 

 from perches on the tops of boulders or logs. There they sit in unosten- 

 tatious, hunched-over postures, blending so well with the background 

 that they are often passed by altogether unnoticed. The element pro- 

 tecting them from observation most, at such times, seems to be their 

 faculty for keeping absolutely still. 



