292 BULLETIN 56, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



appear with pouches distended with cedar berries gathered from one 

 of the dwarfed trees at the summit of the cliflf. If a piiion pine- 

 has chanced to obtain a foothold on a ledge, not one of its tooth- 

 some nuts will they permit to fall uneaten; but, as already remarked, 

 its range of food is quite extensive, and few of nature's bounties are 

 left untasted. Of its domestic affairs I was able to learn little, be- 

 yond the fact that it utilizes soft materials of whatever kinds are at 

 hand in making its hearthstone warm and comfortable; but its pre- 

 cautions against the intrusion of unwelcome visitors were such that 

 I never was able to effect an entrance to its inner sanctuaries and 

 obtain a glimpse of the home and family, much as my curiosity was 

 piqued. 



Seen upon the dazzling walls of limestone inclosing the canyons 

 of this region, this chipmunk often appears much smaller than it 

 really is, perhaps because its distance is usually underestimated, on 

 account of the distinctness with which objects are visible against the 

 white rock. When attempting to procure specimens, I have occasion- 

 ally ridden into a narrow canyon, and, leaving my horse, suddenly 

 turned a corner and surprised the chipmunks, who, taken unawares, 

 would attempt, in the excitement of the moment, to climb a sui-face 

 that was not simply perpendicular, but actually overhanging the 

 canyon. I fired an- unsuccessful shot at one of these unfortunates, 

 just in time to drive it to desperation. It made a frantic attempt 

 to scale such a place, and only failed upon reaching an alcove having 

 a strongly arched roof, in which it could no longer obtain a footing. 

 It fell to the ground, a distance of "about 40 feet, but escaped, 

 apparently unhurt, into a rift in the base of the canyon. Hackberries, 

 of which this chipmunk is fond, grow in these canyons. It is active 

 throughout the winter at this altitude, as it doubtless is at the higher 

 levels. When the country becomes more closely settled, we may expect 

 some modification of its shy habits and some destructiveness to crops. 



In the vicinity of Whipple Barracks are immense piles of coarse 

 granite rock surrounded by openings in which are groves of forest 

 trees. In these rock piles the Gila chipmunk finds an entirely con- 

 genial retreat, and is very abundant, although quite as shy as .else- 

 where. Its food consists largely of the acorns of the evergreen oak 

 tree {Quercus emoryi). Tonto basin presents somewhat similar 

 topographical features and similar vegetation. In it I found this 

 chipmunk along Pine, Canyon, Cibicu, Carrizi, Corduroy, and Cedar 

 creeks, feeding here also on the acorns of the evergreen oak trees, 

 which it climbed with ease. In the foothills it frequents the smaller 

 canyons and arroyos, bordered with evergreen scrub oaks, which 

 supply it with food to its liking and shelter it from its enemies. 



It is probable that the habitat of this species nowhere actually 

 overlaps that of the Arizona chipmunk, although the two occa- 



